Old Grey Haired Guy Needs Help - Montana Owners Club

Bochim · 11-17-2018, 05:30 PM

Hello,
Seems problems with this unit come in groups. Will not go over it all but need some help with what happened today. After spending the summer in Montana we are back at number two sons house in South Carolina. Was trying to hook up to reset Monty on some better blocks. We will be here until Christmas.
After raising the unit up a few inches the landing gear motor quit. It was hot to the touch. Now that I am thinking about it, it may have been struggling some earlier this year (slow). I had raised the back jacks (button in panel with landing gear before this.
Now nothing works, landing gear, slides, and rear jacks. Fuses in the house look good. Do not know about any in line fuses or reset buttons, etc. Would a bad landing gear motor cause all this?
Any ideas or help greatly appreciated.
Steve

K0LCB · 11-17-2018, 05:41 PM

You should have a circuit breaker in the pump circuit. Probably on the buss bar. Make certain all electrical connections are snug

**DQDick** · 11-17-2018, 07:02 PM

What year and model do you have?

BuilderBob · 11-17-2018, 08:08 PM

Need more information year and model of Montana?

Bochim · 11-17-2018, 08:19 PM

2010 Mountaineer 295 RDK. I will put this info in my sig, actually thought it was there until I looked just now. Thanks, Steve

WeBeFulltime · 11-18-2018, 06:32 AM

You should find a 30A (I think) in-line fuse in your front compartment if memory serves me. I had that one blow a couple of times on our 2008.

Bochim · 11-18-2018, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeBeFulltime

You should find a 30A (I think) in-line fuse in your front compartment if memory serves me. I had that one blow a couple of times on our 2008.

No fuse that I can see. Will keep looking. Should slides, rear stabilizers, and front landing gear all be fused together?

WeBeFulltime · 11-18-2018, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bochim

No fuse that I can see. Will keep looking. Should slides, rear stabilizers, and front landing gear all be fused together?

The fuse I referenced is the one in the "pink" wire that Carl spoke of. It is in-line and is a spade type (not round).

Bochim · 11-20-2018, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeBeFulltime

You should find a 30A (I think) in-line fuse in your front compartment if memory serves me. I had that one blow a couple of times on our 2008.

Found a 15 amp on a blue wire. Looked fine but I put a new one in just to make sure. No change.
Steve

BB_TX · 11-18-2018, 09:02 AM

Is there any thing else 12 volt that is not working? I would not think all those things are on a single fuse.

Have you checked your battery?

Bochim · 11-20-2018, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB_TX

Is there any thing else 12 volt that is not working? I would not think all those things are on a single fuse.

Have you checked your battery?

Three things not working: Slides, landing gear, rear stabilizers.
Found out my old multimeter quit working. Have another ordered and will be here tomorrow. Will dig in earnestly tomorrow.

Thanks

twindman · 11-18-2018, 10:01 AM

Here is a link to another thread on this subject. I think your auto resetable fuse may be bad. It controls the landing gear and slide, I think.
http://www.montanaowners.com/forums/...r+fuse+picture

**Carl n Susan** · 11-18-2018, 11:22 AM

I have worked on a lot of 2005-2008 and 2012 and newer Montanas, but not a 2010. So take all of this with a grain of salt.

Do you by chance have a remote control for the RV? That is one common failure point for the landing gear, slides and stabilizers. I don't know if that was available in 2010 with the electric landing legs. If you have one, then you may have a different issue,

The electric landing gear is fed by a pink wire with an inline 30 amp blade fuse. It should come off one of the self-resetting CBs. Power for the hydraulic motor for the slides also comes off of one of the CBs. I believe the the stabilizers have inline fuses near each motor. The common point (without a remote control unit brain) is the connection from the battery to the self-resetting breakers. I would check that I have 12V all along that path.

The post referenced by Twindman (above) is a good one!

Bochim · 11-18-2018, 08:56 PM

Great answers, thank you very much. We have spent the weekend with family and I will start the fix tomorrow.

Another related question: Do I need to block up the front of the coach to remove the landing gear motor?
Thanks , Steve

Phil P · 11-19-2018, 02:58 AM

Hello

I sent you a private message.

I have cut the landing gear open to see why they fail.

I have a lot of experience with them had to change 3 sets before figuring out what the problem was.

Phil P

Bochim · 11-19-2018, 08:41 AM

Gentlemen,

This old retired teacher is overwhelmed by the help on this forum and this thread. Some of us, while not innately gifted with mechanical ability, will tackle anything. On retired teachers pay that outlook is very necessary to live full time in an rv, at least the one I bought. When we got started on this path I bought what I could afford, which was a used 2010 Montana and a low miles no computer chip 2007 Ford power stroke. For those of you familiar with that model Ford you are probably thinking that was a mistake. Son number 4 is a diesel mechanic. He said buy it and then let him have it and a couple thousand dollars for things that needed to be done. The truck has been great for 60000 miles now.
We are now in the south east where we hail from. We spend half the year living in Montana where I am the camp host at a state park. I'm glad this didn't happen out there.
I feel fortunate that we are going to be settled in one place for a couple months so I can get all this maintenance done. Last year while in the east I put new brakes on all four wheels and did bearing, seal, and race maintenance. Mother board in heater was along about then and etc. Also had to send the oem Ford brake controller out for rebuild.
All that said, we have greatly enjoyed full timing in this Montana. Whoever buys it when we are done will get a great unit.
Thanks to All,
Steve

mtheo · 11-19-2018, 08:44 AM

You said they are struggling. If that is the case it sound as if the motor is still working, wonder if you gears are worn. Had to replace mine on my 2007. When they get worn they start to bind and really struggle to raise unit.

Bochim · 11-19-2018, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtheo

You said they are struggling. If that is the case it sound as if the motor is still working, wonder if you gears are worn. Had to replace mine on my 2007. When they get worn they start to bind and really struggle to raise unit.

If I am going to remove the motor and gears I guess I should block up the unit in some way. Is that necessary?
Thanks,

Steve

BuilderBob · 11-19-2018, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bochim

If I am going to remove the motor and gears I guess I should block up the unit in some way. Is that necessary?
Thanks,

Steve

If you are going to pull the motor and the gears you do need to block up the front of the rig or do like I did one time and just hooked back to my truck.

**Carl n Susan** · 11-19-2018, 11:38 AM

I haven't removed the motor, by itself, before and I don't remember anyone here talking about it. But I am pretty sure you can remove the motor (just 4 bolts) and slide it off the shaft without any untoward results. Personally I would put a jack and cribbing under the rig just in case.

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