Thanks for all the input and sorry for the late reply - I was out of town and unable to try a fix until last night. I was cranking it up to the top to then do an "over-crank" (per advice from this board) and about a 1/3 of the way up the ratchet started working again. I put it up and down a few times and all is working well. I know that it had not been working and this was a real problem. I think the last time we took it down my I let me 8 year old son crank it down and I think he may have “over-cranked” when it got to the bottom. I assume that at some point when I was trying to crank it up (either a few weeks ago when I tried or last night) that an "over-crank" was simulated and the ratcheting was restored. Until posting this problem I didn’t know about the effect of over-cranking or how a slight over-crank can restore the ratcheting so this has been helpful. Thanks again for all the input.
I'm glad that you got it working. My dealer friend told me about this one time as he had seen customers with the same problem. Basically, when you get to the limit either up or down stop and go no further. He also said that those with the power lift option had that problem because the lift hits the limit and overcranks before you can take your finger off the button.
stevegutch wrote: I think the last time we took it down my I let me 8 year old son crank it down and I think he may have “over-cranked” when it got to the bottom.
I doubt that your son caused the problem. When mine has done this, I was the one cranking both times and I don't recall over cranking it at the bottom, only cranking until snug. Same with going up, stop when it gets snug. I usually slow down the turn rate as it approaches the top to make sure I don't go too far. I think it's just a "character flaw" of the Fleetwoods and nothing to really worry about!
stevegutch wrote: Thanks for all the input and sorry for the late reply - I was out of town and unable to try a fix until last night. I was cranking it up to the top to then do an "over-crank" (per advice from this board) and about a 1/3 of the way up the ratchet started working again. I put it up and down a few times and all is working well. I know that it had not been working and this was a real problem. I think the last time we took it down my I let me 8 year old son crank it down and I think he may have “over-cranked” when it got to the bottom. I assume that at some point when I was trying to crank it up (either a few weeks ago when I tried or last night) that an "over-crank" was simulated and the ratcheting was restored. Until posting this problem I didn’t know about the effect of over-cranking or how a slight over-crank can restore the ratcheting so this has been helpful. Thanks again for all the input.
The ratchet and pawl may need to be cleaned and greased. I had mine do the same as yours. I drilled out the rivets on the ratchet box cover, removed it and found there was a little rust on pawl shaft keeping the pawl from moving. I sprayed a little WD-40 on it moved but not freely. I let it set a while and it moved freely again. I wiped off the WD-40 and greased the pawl and shaft and it continued to work fine. The cover rivets I drilled out were steel, so I used a piece of threaded rod about 6 inches long and a lock nut and flat washer on each end when I put the cover back on. For a little extra insurance I crimped the excess threads on one end of the rod so that nut would not back off.
While you are under there:
Pull the bottom cover pan off that covers the whiffletree, the area where the screw shaft connects to the cables. Make sure the area is clean of things especially mouse nests, etc. I have seen some irreversible damage done in there by mice.
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