front lift arm issue

[Barton]

we have a 2004 3124kb TM we have had it up for the last three weeks and last night went to close it down and the back half went down fine. Went to put the front down and on the street side the front lift bar at the top started bowing out as it lowered and would not go all the way down. I have checked for anything blocking the way and see nothing that would cause this. have not had any issues with the lift bar before this. Any ideals or sugestion for I am at a lost

[commodor47]

I would check the pocket bolt on the torsion bar lift arm. It may have come loose. Or it may have sheared off.
Dick

[Barton]

thank you so much I will check this out

[Barton]

checked out pocket bolt on the front lift arms both curb and street side. They where both not sheared or loose both where snug. I there a torque measurement for these? I did notice that when setting down the curb side goes down smooth and the street side goes down smooth until about half way down and it is high compared to the curb side. Then the lift arm starts pushing out it does that at about a foot to a foot and a half before being able to latch.
Might we have a torque arm issue . I do not know how they work or how to adjust them. Any suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated!! Thank You

[commodor47]

Based on your description, it almost sounds like there is some type of obstruction in the pocket area. Can you use a powerful light to visually inspect the pocket area? Perhaps some creature installed a nest of sorts?
Dick

[Shane826]

I don’t think this is a torsion bar adjustment issue. Is there a broken bar or did one of the brackets pull out of the floor?

Maybe it’s just me and I’m way off, and I keep forgetting to look at mine for comparison, but the lift arm looks kinda low on the torsion bar (see pic), like it dropped down while the camper was set up. Unequal length lift arms cause all kinds of binding and flexing issues.

Open it back up, stick your tape measure up into the pocket against the “L” of the lift arm, and measure right down to the bottom of the lower box. Front shell arms should be 39-1/2”, rear shell arms should be 39”.

[Shane826]

For the sake of science I braved the monsoon and snapped a quick pic on the way out to work tonight. Notice how the bottom of the lift arm is roughly inline with the curve on the torsion bar? On your pic it looks like the end of the lift bar is quite a bit past the bend on the torsion bar.

[Barton]

thank you I see what you are talking going out to measure now in our lovely 113 degree evening

[Shane826]

Any luck?

[Barton]

thank you for the info we put up and measured and the lift arm. they where not the correct height. Adjusted the arms and seem to fix almost the complete problem . there is still a slight bowing but very slight and maybe from it being bent out so much the first time.
thank you for all your help !