Lippert LCI Hydraulic Hose Failure

[dmorse68]

While moving our 2018 MS 36RSSB3 from Oregon to Palm Desert California, we had a hydraulic hose on the off door rear LCI Level Up jack blow out from the fitting that goes into the top of the jack. It looks like the cause was a poor factory crimp job on the fitting was the cause for the hose blowing off the fitting.

Also the two, hydraulic, through-frame, opposing living room slides slid out on their own. The off door side about a foot and the door side about 4 inches. That’s how we knew there was a problem while driving down the road.

When it blew off, it forced the hose inside the underbelly. Now our insulation underneath there is thoroughly soaked in oil.

Anyway, We limped it to an RV park halfway and are waiting for a mobile repair guy to come fix it.

Here are pictures:

[Cummins12V98]

It's VERY easy to such a repair. Grab the line and give it a tug, you will be able to see what hose it is in the front compartment.

Attach a pull string to the bad end, remove the end at the front and pull it thru. Now you have a pull string to pull the new line back into place. Find a local hydraulic hose repair shop. 10 minutes they will have you back on the road. Pull new line back thru and hook up. Fill your tank up with ATF. Cycle slides and rams.

Mobile Tech will do the exact same thing.

[Notanlines]

Yep, what he ^^^^ said. There are hydraulic hose shops all over the place.

[Cummins12V98]

Had a hose ready to blow so I removed it and had a duplicate made and back in business just like that!

[Edd505]

local auto parts does hydraulic hoses, make a couple phone calls.

[porthole]

Originally Posted by Edd505

local auto parts does hydraulic hoses, make a couple phone calls.

Local auto parts - not what they used to be.

I tried several local stores trying to get 1.5" exhaust parts to move my generator exhaust out from underneath the bedroom.

None of the three had any stock or offered to try and get.

"If not on the rack - we don't carry it"

[Edd505]

Originally Posted by porthole

Local auto parts - not what they used to be.

I tried several local stores trying to get 1.5" exhaust parts to move my generator exhaust out from underneath the bedroom.

None of the three had any stock or offered to try and get.

"If not on the rack - we don't carry it"

Guess that must be the big city way. I have always lived out away from large cities in farm or ranch area. Country towns normally have what you need to fix equipment & things. Local hardware has an whole row of small engine fixings, carb kits, and entire carbs for Brigs & Tecumseh.

Looking for 1.5" exhaust, try a muffler shop the make pipes to fit, or buy a piece of pipe and make one. Right off chain link fence posts 1.5/8" small slots in the sides and it will go over 1.5 and clamp with U bolts. Got to be crative when the big towns 75 miles one way.

[porthole]

Originally Posted by Edd505

Guess that must be the big city way. I have always lived out away from large cities in farm or ranch area. Country towns normally have what you need to fix equipment & things. Local hardware has an whole row of small engine fixings, carb kits, and entire carbs for Brigs & Tecumseh.

Looking for 1.5" exhaust, try a muffler shop the make pipes to fit, or buy a piece of pipe and make one. Right off chain link fence posts 1.5/8" small slots in the sides and it will go over 1.5 and clamp with U bolts. Got to be crative when the big towns 75 miles one way.

We live in the heart of chicken world, lower Delaware, our town - population of 900.
You would think it would be easier to find items like this.
Chain auto parts not what they used to be. Was really surprised by the lack of parts at NAPA

Walmart online for the exhaust pipe, best price and not that easy to find. Ends up shipped from Jeggs through Walmart. Connectors and clamps through A.

[Edd505]

Originally Posted by porthole

We live in the heart of chicken world, lower Delaware, our town - population of 900.
You would think it would be easier to find items like this.
Chain auto parts not what they used to be. Was really surprised by the lack of parts at NAPA

Walmart online for the exhaust pipe, best price and not that easy to find. Ends up shipped from Jeggs through Walmart. Connectors and clamps through A.

That explains it all! Wrong side of the Mississippi

[dmorse68]

So just an update. Got it fixed. Had to get rid of the first mobile repair guy. He was clueless and no help. Ended up charging me $320. I found a second mobile repair guy. He came out a few days later and repaired it in 1.5 hrs. He charged me $290 for parts and $360 for the service call and labor. The cause of the hose failure was a bad crimp job from the factory (DRV’s fault). I am currently trying to do a warranty claim with them to recoup my $1000, but surprise, surprise, DRV won’t return my phone call, nor my emails grrrrr!

[Notanlines]

David, you had really good advice earlier in the thread. These hoses are very easy to build for any average shop and even easier to replace. DRV will pay you $1000 to replace a hydraulic hose when Bill Cosby gets out of prison....ain't gonna happen, no matter what.
Honestly, give the repair a try next time.

[dmorse68]

Thanks Notanlines. Will do the repair next time for sure. I was in a bind this time and was in the middle of relocating the unit 1100 miles from my 2.5 year, full-timing location in Oregon to Palm Desert, CA. I hired a transport company to move it for me. It was half way when it broke and the meter was ticking. Long story short, I knew nothing about how the system worked, as well the $$$ was adding up with this transport company.

By the way, checked all my other crimp jobs around the coach, the ones I could visually see anyway, and found one more halfway crimped hose and fitting.

Cheers,
David

[Cummins12V98]

$290 for parts??? I feel bad for you as some people will take advantage.

[dmorse68]

Originally Posted by Cummins12V98

$290 for parts??? I feel bad for you as some people will take advantage.

I agree. It was a 30 foot length of an “industrial grade hose and fitting.” But still, I knew it was a little too high in price. Oh well, lesson learned. At least I know know now how the hydraulic system works and is engineered. I’ll be able to do the repairs myself next time.