As I was putting the Tardis up yesterday, I was using a square shaped socket, that fitted into a metal cup, badly, inside the unit. I'm not convinced that this is original, and took quite a bit of doing to get the roof up - can someone tell me how it should be?
The system was fitted to the very first Jayco units that Conway imported in 1980/81. Later, when they started to build their own 'UK' versions of these campers, Conway retained the lift system.
An excellent resource is www.popupportal.com
Which will be an invaluable source of advice and will allow you to download the manual for the lift system.
The shaft & handle are square, btw
------------- Getting Old, Staying Active (much to Mrs Folder's dismay..)
Thanks, after looking into it, it looks like the winch handle is ok, but the bit it's supposed to locate onto has been replaced badly! Has anyone had to replace the locator piece before? Is it a big job?
It's all internal (no exposed cables or pulleys under the camper) which helps it last a long time with minimal maintenance.
However, when things finally do go wrong, it's one of the more complicated systems to fix.
It relies on large 'bendy' springs (a bit like plumbers pipe springs) to push up the telescopic lifer arms. The guides for these springs are bolted to the camper floor (one in each corner, obviously)
One of the most common causes of failure is the fact that the floor rots, and pressure exerted by the springs tends to tear the guides out of the floor.
The floor gets wet because rain water trickles down the lifter posts and pools at the bottom, on the floor. When new, all Jayco-type lift systems are supplied with a zipped canvas cover for each lifter post, designed to keep the rain out.
These tend not to be used by owners - and usually end up getting lost after a couple of years.
The roof *should* raise very easily - i.e, smoothly, and without any undue effort. I always found the Jayco system one of the easiest to operate - and if raising the roof is at all hard, it suggests that something needs looking at pronto.
Another possibility is that the roof might become waterlogged due to a leaking centre seam - thus increasing the weight. You could tell if this was the case by using a damp meter.
I don't want to sound too gloomy, however - and the lift system is certainly fixable, but you do need some DIY skills.
Here is a link to someone who successfully repaired and strengthened the floor due to the guides pulling away from the floor
Hey, I've still got my post covers, will make sure I use them!
After much researching, the bit I need is a winch tube - found the instructions on how to fit it on one of the forums you kindly recommended - just need to find one now, any ideas? CVS in Bolton have been mentioned - do you think they are worth a phone call? Thanks for your help on this!
What has happened to the original tube? - it's hard to see how anyone could have damaged it - being inside the body. How could just slipping the winding handle on have ruined it?
I think that any bits will have to come from the states - that's not as daunting as it sounds, I've ordered stuff from there and it's arrived in just over a week.
You could also probably have one fabricated in the UK - you'd need the dimensions, of course.
------------- Getting Old, Staying Active (much to Mrs Folder's dismay..)
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Topic: conway tardis - elevation mechanism
