Posted 2012-12-29 5:05 PM (#149016) Subject: Any cheap ideas to convert manual jack to electric?
Member
Posts: 15
Location: Oklahoma
I have a 3 horse slant Keifer Built trailer with living qtrs. It has a single center mount manual 2 speed jack and would like to convert to electric but cheapest conversion I have found is around $475 for electric motor plus installation costs. I have used a 1/2 inch varispeed drill but have to move the jack rod from one side to the other which is a pain cause I have to remove my spare tire.
Posted 2012-12-29 6:53 PM (#149022 - in reply to #149018) Subject: RE: Any cheap ideas to convert manual jack to electric?
Member
Posts: 15
Location: Oklahoma
Saw a picture on another forum where someone used an ATV winch, removed the cable and installed a chain gear. Then they welded a gear on the crank rod and attached a chain between the gears. I bought a new badlands winch on craigslist for $50 but have not gone any further. Recently someone mentioned doing it without removing the cable but with no details. I'm trying to think through how this could be done (with the cable) so I thought I would post here to hear if anyone else has some ideas. I'm sure hydraulic is the way to go but just hard to justify.
Posted 2012-12-30 8:04 AM (#149027 - in reply to #149016) Subject: RE: Any cheap ideas to convert manual jack to electric?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 659 Location: Rayne, LA
In an older Mules and More magazine I saw a Cajun Easy Lift System that converts a manual jack to an electric. Based on the phone number the man selling them is from my area but I do not know him nor do I know anyone that has tried one. If you want the information it is Ken Francois 337-468-2170 or 337-523-6680.
Posted 2012-12-30 6:54 PM (#149038 - in reply to #149027) Subject: RE: Any cheap ideas to convert manual jack to electric?
Member
Posts: 15
Location: Oklahoma
Originally written by cajunmuleman on 2012-12-30 8:04 AM
In an older Mules and More magazine I saw a Cajun Easy Lift System that converts a manual jack to an electric. Based on the phone number the man selling them is from my area but I do not know him nor do I know anyone that has tried one. If you want the information it is Ken Francois 337-468-2170 or 337-523-6680.
Posted 2012-12-31 7:11 AM (#149045 - in reply to #149016) Subject: RE: Any cheap ideas to convert manual jack to electric?
Location: Central Arkansas
I know a guy that tried the big cordless drill. It worked flawless while there was no weight on the jack. But at the moment it started to lift the weight, the drill somehow broke his wrist!
Posted 2012-12-31 8:49 AM (#149048 - in reply to #149045) Subject: RE: Any cheap ideas to convert manual jack to electric?
Member
Posts: 15
Location: Oklahoma
Originally written by brushycreekranch on 2012-12-31 7:11 AM
I know a guy that tried the big cordless drill. It worked flawless while there was no weight on the jack. But at the moment it started to lift the weight, the drill somehow broke his wrist!
This can happen and is the reason I use a variable speed drill so I can control the speed. Another reason I want to find another way. Attached is pic (hopefully) of what I plan to do. It is an atv winch without the cable and a chain gear where the cable was. Add chain gear to crank rod and add chain between both gears.
Posted 2013-01-01 10:24 AM (#149070 - in reply to #149016) Subject: RE: Any cheap ideas to convert manual jack to electric?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: high desert, CA.
Very neat inastall. I do wonder how many amps the motor will need to do the work when weight is on jack. It seems like you might need two batteries to do the job. ( Orrrrr.... two 6volt batts with cable between to add up to 12 volts. That would seem to give you more amps)
Posted 2013-01-01 1:27 PM (#149073 - in reply to #149070) Subject: RE: Any cheap ideas to convert manual jack to electric?
Member
Posts: 15
Location: Oklahoma
The ATV winch has a 2000# pull and is 12 volt. The manual jack is a 2 speed and if a human can crank it with trailer full I would think it would be a non-issue with a winch. My trailer has 2ea batteries connected in series. Seems to me the biggest issue may be welding where any aluminum is involved.
Any cheap ideas to convert manual jack to electric?
