SGTJOE
Utah
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Joined: 01/12/2006
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Got a call today from shop doing some fiberglass work and they said my hydraulic reservoir for the leveling jacks fell off while they were moving the coach. Turns out that there was only one bolt holding the tank to the pump base. I thought somewhere on this forum I read about this happening to someone else, but couldn't find it in search. It's Power Gear and the mh is a 2001 COLLECTABLE National TradeWinds on Freightliner chassis.
Is this common??
2001 Trade Winds 7390
Toad 03 Grand Am
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Troubleshooter
Anchorage, AK
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Joined: 05/02/2002
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This is the first I have heard of this problem. The reservoir/pump on ours is held to the frame with two 3/8" diameter bolts. The one nut that I can see looks to be a upset locknut, and I would find it very hard to believe that it could vibrate loose.
I think I would want to take a look at what the RV folks are telling you, and see for myself if there is any indication of the mounting holes elongating from a loose bolts vibrating prior to the unit falling off.
Only One Old Fellow's Opinion
Bill
2002 Discovery 3126E CAT
2004 Saturn VUE
Mountain Master Tow Brake
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SGTJOE
Utah
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The more I think about this the more questions I have.
Who installs the leveling system, Coach manufacturer or Chassis Manufacturer?
Since there are many other coaches with Power Gear Leveling Systems on Freightliner Chassis with Cat engines, wouldn't you think they also may have the same potential problem?
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dons2346
Sioux Falls, SD, formerly of So. CA
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Joined: 11/21/2001
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Had the same thing happen to our '99 Tradewinds. The only thing that held it on was a flimsy piece of sheet metal. Get some angle iron and make your own, it will stand up much better.
Oh BTW, when I called the factory and told them about it, they said it was no big deal. The pump was hanging by the hoses and they were rubbing on a sharp piece of metal. They told me I could bring it in in 4 months and don't drive it until then. I said no, I would continue to drive it and when it burned up, they could buy me a new one.
At least the guy that bought the coqach doesn't have to worry about it anymore.
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Africangray2
IN
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Joined: 04/23/2008
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Normally, there are 4 bolts that hold the tank to the pump mtr assembly.
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dougrainer
Carrolton
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National had a recall on the problem years ago. They sent out Steel band straps and a new mount bracket. Since National is out of business, you will have to pay for the repair and figure out a strap/bracket system. The problem was confined to National and no other makers and was only on the Tradewinds where the pump was mounted in the Left rear area. The vibration in the mount area caused the metal to fatigue. Doug
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SGTJOE
Utah
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I'm not talking about the whole pump assembly, it did not break loose. What fell off is the tank that acts as the reservoir for the fluid. There are 4 allen head bolts that hold the tank to the bottom of the pump assembly. 3 of the bolts are missing and the 4th bolt is still there with a portion of the tank top flange, the weight of the tank full of fluid finally caused the tank to break away.
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dougrainer
Carrolton
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SGTJOE wrote:I'm not talking about the whole pump assembly, it did not break loose. What fell off is the tank that acts as the reservoir for the fluid. There are 4 allen head bolts that hold the tank to the bottom of the pump assembly. 3 of the bolts are missing and the 4th bolt is still there with a portion of the tank top flange, the weight of the tank full of fluid finally caused the tank to break away.
THAT was the problem. The band straps were installed around the resevoir to hold and support the reservoir, and they sent a upper bracket because some of them were fatigued and needed to be replaced. Doug
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rooster
somewhere in the Ocooch
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Yup, same thing happened to me. National had a bracket to fix the problem, available from a dealer. I made my own. The original bracket on mine had 2 slots with bolts through them. Metal fatigue ( I guess ) happened & the bracket broke at the slots. I drilled two holes down lower on the bracket & remounted it. Then put a metal strap under it, bolted elsewhere. So far, so good.
Tony & Cam
1999 Tradewinds 7371
2001 Cherokee
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dons2346
Sioux Falls, SD, formerly of So. CA
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By reading the Yahoo Groups National site, it looks like this wasn't an isolated incident.
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