winding mechanism 1985 jayco dove

Hi - it can be a number of things so would recommend you get an understanding of the winch and cable system first. Best way is to buy one of Trevor Eastmans Camper service manuals

They are clearly written and easy to understand. When you get the service manual keep it with the camper not at home. Nothing like getting a problem while on holidays and having the know how elsewhere.

As yours is an early model the cables tend to twist around each other more than the later ones. Best to look in behind the winch/winder by removing ply panels. Do not run your hand along any cables in there. They can be sharp and slice your hand open. Best to get the book first. It will help with your model. Good luck....

Hi,
If you can wind it up and place 4x 2x1 pine or similar pieces of timber, 1090mm if my memory serves my right, at each cnr to take the weight, then you might be able to pull the front area apart and have a look to see if something is catching. May even be in the rear section that something is stopping the it from retracting back into the full closed position.
Is it one cnr that stops coming down first? or is it all cnrs that stop at once?
May even be the cable crossing over itself on the ratchet/winch mechanism catching and not allowing it to fully retract.
Let us know how you go.

all corners come down together and stop together i will see if the cable has twisted but its difficult to get in to see the mechanism

thanks

The winding mechanism on Jayco campers is a real Heath Robinson affair with winches, wire ropes and pullies going everywhere

Simply put, the mechanism for the supports is a winch which is attached to a flexible rod into inside the support by metres of wire rope. As the wire is winched in the pulley arrangement shortens the length of the flexible rod against the base of the support, and the roof is pushed up.

Problems can exist because of damage to the plate that holds each of the ropes to each support to the winch, fraying of the wire ropes themselves, pulleys being damaged, the inability of the wire ropes to move freely, the flexible shaft being U/S or clogged up with grease or the supports themselves being damaged and jamming.

I think the Jayco site has a diagram of how the system works, but a Google search will also find links.

To determine the fault you are going to work along the system to work out where the issue is. The wires, pulleys and flexible rods are either found behind the front or end walls or in the ‘step’ in front of it. Wire rope also runs behind the kitchen.

Follow the path (wear thick gloves because frayed wire rope is sharp!). Clean or grease as required. The support poles themselves can be greased carefully with silicon grease.

Due to the number of components in the system, it is hard to give a definitive answer to your question. I’d suggest it is probably the flexible rods jamming or clogged up with grease or a screw, which happened to me

Hi Maggie
Since your jayco is a 1985 model methinks some or all the cables are shot.
I had a similar experience. The pullies located in the corners of the jayco were made from nylon and the cables eventually cut through to the locating bolt. This caused the cable strands to slowly snap and as they did so the broken strands build like birds nests at the pulley and will not allow the lid to come down.
Do as described earlier if you can wind all the way up and support the lid with lengths of timber. Because if the rear cables snap alltogether it is a very difficult job to lift the lid. Four guys will be needed.
I took my cables to a ships chandlery to have them make new at a fraction of the cost from jayco. Replace the corner pullies with the newer metal ones. You will find the cable length is adjusted at the whiffle tree near the winch so each corner comes up to the same height.
My cables broke while camped at the Mitchell Plateau and we had to tent it for the next three weeks home.
Hope this helps
Stan

Had one about that year many moons ago.
Can you push the top down or dose it lock solid.

Hi, I have a Coromal camper and would think Jayco mechanism is similar, I have photos of mine , If you email me at billkelly@iprimus.com.au I will send them to you, cheers Bill

Hey Maggie,

If I am right in what you are saying, our Jayco Swan used to stop before touching the bottom but it was designed to do that.
The last bit closes with the latches so you can check all your canvas is tucked in etc


Cheers, hope this helps