Cables
 

How do you go about lubricating the cables? Hubby is going to work on the door this weekend and I thought if I could find out how to do the cables we could get that done too. Not sure when the cables were checked, we just got this HiLo in January.
Thanks,
Becky:)

I use a spray silicone lubricant on mine act least once a yr. and use all purpose grease on the hydralic shaft. make sure pump moter tank is also full to 1/2 inch from top with hydralic fluid.

Becky,
You can spray the cables with WD-40 and wipe them down with an oil soaked rag. They also make a cable oiler. It's a little device you clamp on the cable and force lube into. Sometimes hard to find but I did see them at Harbor Freight. I use Tri-Flow to lube my cables, which is a teflon based lube. Make sure you use a rag to wipe the cable down that way you can check for frays at the same time, which the rag will catch on if you do have frays.

Hi Becky,

The bulk of the work is done from underneath the trailer. What I do is to back the trailer onto leveling boards or the "lego" plastic blocks to elevate the trailer. This gives you some "wiggle room". I use PB Blaster or WD40 as the lubricant. Spray a rag with the lubricant and hold it to one side of the cable while you spray the cable directly. Run the rag up and down the cable where you sprayed it. By spraying the rag first, it will not be dry and remove the lubricant from the cable. The rag will also tell you if your cables are fraying because it will snag on the broken wires if there are any. Do this to all the exposed cables. Spray the bolts that go thru the pullies. Earlier HiLo's had metal pullies and then they switched to a "rubberized plastic" pulley. While you are under there, check the cylinder ram and guide bar. Make sure they are clean and not rusted or dirtied up. Use lithium grease on them. Depending on the location of your holding tanks, the cables might run above them. If so, raise or lower the trailer to get that section of the cables exposed so you can lubricate them. That takes care of the bottom. Now for the top side. On the inside, remove the wooden trim piece that runs along the top of the bottom half. Usually they are screwed on. This will expose the upper pulley and the top half of the cable. Spray the pulley and the cable. Let the lubricant run down the cable. You can't rub this section down with the rag. Do this for the other three cables, replace the wooden trim piece, and you are done. I'm not saying that this is the proper or correct way to do the cables, but it is the way I do mine.

Bob

Cables
 

Check out the library. It has some good pictures and information on the cabIles. We had to repair our trailer door on our 90 Hi-Lo.I used contact paper to put over the new wood..It took us several days to fabricate and glue. The repair was better than the original door. Wish I had thought to take pictures.

Lubing the Cables from inside the trailer !!
 

When my two rear cables failed, they parted right at the pulley under the trim that Bob mentioned earler. Based on my experience, I'd say the most important place to lube the cable is under that wooden trim piece, inside the trailer. The cable makes a complete U-Turn around that pulley, so it's also it's the point of greatest wear & strain.
- Remove the trim - lube that pulley and cable!

I was able to lube all the cables and pulleys underneath. However, in my 2008 22T, it looks like the trim piece over the back pulleys and cables up top goes under the bathroom wall. So, I am guessing it would not be easy to just take out the screws and lift it off. Has anyone lifted those trim pieces off successfully in a 2008 22T ?

If the trim does go under the wall you can cut it in two using the multi-tool that you see advertised on tv. This is an amazing tool when doing trim work and remodeling work. These tools are sold at Lowes, Home Depot, Sears and other stores.

replace cables
 

We have an "84" Hi Lo and ordered new Cables years ago. They do not have directions to set up. Does anyone know how?

Try this post from Neal and Bev: https://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f61/...1998-24td-125/ It has a pdf file with lots of info.

Cable Lubrication
 

I have a 2005 Hi-Lo. I have lubricated the pulley's of the trailer. However the unit still squeals when raising and lowering the unit. So I have read in the forum that the cables can be lubricated directly. Mine still have a plastic covering on them. What lubricant should I use on them?

I got rid of the minor squeal that mine had by lubricating the guide rails on the sides of the lower body with white Teflon grease.

Thank you!

Thanks
 

Thank you for restarting this thread again. Lots of good info here.

Later Tim

I like to keep up with scheduled maintenance on my RV. It is critical that everything be lubricated and functional when it is stored for the winter in Michigan. I will be bringing it home from storage in October to winterize it. The things I have on my list are lubricating the hydrolic rod, WD-40 the pulleys, and to lubricate the guide rails with white Teflon grease. When I put it away we are going to cover it with a nylon cover, put the tires on blocks and cover them, and winterize the plumbing. Did I leave anything out? The lithium grease I use on the hydrolic rod is not white but it is lithium grease does the white make a difference?

Mike

Grease should not be put on the glide rails, it collects dust and dirt and will wear the plastic glide blocks. Paraffin wax is what is recommended for them. They are aluminum and will not rust. Grease is needed on the hydraulic guide bar, also the cables should be lubricated to keep them from rusting.

Lubricant goes directly on the cables? What type of lubricant should I use? I watched Sting's videos and it says to use WD-40 on the pulleys and to be careful not to get it on the corner of the cables because it will turn the curtains brown. Now I am a little confused. :confused:

You can skip the lubricant on the end of the cables that come near the curtains if you prefer, but the rest of the cables that are under the trailer need to be lubricated. I use chain and cable lubricant but anything is better than nothing. Don't use grease, any oil of your choice will be ok, oil soaks into the cable, lubes and protects it.

Thank you again!!

Lubing cables
 

A forum member recommended "break free spray". I amable to purchase this at WallMart in the sporting goods/gun section. It is a cleaner,lubricant and protector. We have used this for many years.

Lubes
 

Here is what I used on my trailer. The Blaster Dry lube for cables, bought at Home Depot or Lowes, and the white lithium grease for the hydraulic guide bar was bought at Sears.

Thanks Sam!

Thanks PappaP!! :)

Bought the Blaster Dry Lube today! The paraffin wax is it a bar of wax? I am looking on Amazon to have it sent to the house. As my wife puts it " By the man in the cute little brown shorts that delivers to the house" ! LOL Thank you everyone for your input. This is my first experience with the Hi-Lo and I want to keep it in top shape. It was so neglected by the dealer and I do not want to have to replace anything if I can avoid it. I fixed the awning extension arm with a new slide and the rivet. It performed so well it's first time out with my son and his wife. My wife is looking forward to the time we take it out in the spring. :):)

Lubing cables
 

I was at Walmart and saw the white lithium grease in the aisle with the motor oil. Parafin wax comes in a cube. It is sold where ever canning supplies are sold. Probably three or four slabs in a box. Should be inexpensive.

Thanks Sam!! :)

Looks like I have a lot to do as far as maintenance is concerned when I get my trailer home to winterize it. Lube cables, lube hydraulic shaft, anitfreeze the waterlines, block the wheels, cover the trailer with a cover, Whew am glad I finally got the trailer I have been waiting for. I am especially glad that this forum is available to help me with all of the things that need to be done! Everyone is exceptionally fabulous!!!

Mike

Video Manual
 

If you haven't watched it take some time and go through the video manual for some basic pointers on caring for you HiLo.
https://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f49/...-youtube-1233/

maintenance items
 

Even us senior members keep learning new thing on how to care for the HiLo. It is like having a second house to take care of. An expensive hobby!!

Fantastic video's!! The Sting series is great for any Hi-Lo owner. :)

Do you just run the Paraffin wax along the guide rods on the exterior of the trailer ~ we have never done this before (didn't know an actually clean these with the wax cleaner to keep smooth). We presently use white lithium grease spray on the cables and a general purpose lithium grease on the hydraulic shaft. The cables show no rough edges and the bar is very shiny without rust when cleaned. Do others feel the Blaster is superior to keep the cables with that new shiny/moist feel? Thanks for all comments:)

Not really sure if it does or doesn't. Will be bringing the Hi-Lo home the first week in October to winterize it. I will know then if it works or not. I ordered an RV cover to put over my precious and am going to lube, oil, grease, and winterize the pipes for its long winter nap in Michigan. My main goal is to stop all of the squeaks and squeals so it remains in near new perfect working order. Will let you know how it works when I am done. I have the Paraffin wax, white lithium grease for the hydraulics, and the Blaster Dry Lube for the cables. I also have WD-40 for the pulley's. So I have built up a stock of lubricants for the major components of my Hi-Lo and am ready to do battle to keep the elements from deteriorating all of the moving components. It performed exceptionally the first time I had it out in Mackinac City in August. So am really anxious to see how everything works when I get it home to put it to sleep for the winter. The RV has really improved my gas mileage from 10 mpg to 15 mpg over the billboard I was pulling. This forum has been a real lifesaver as far as things I had to repair. The most major thing being the awning upper extension arm and replacing the rivet that holds it in place.

Winterizing
 

I winterized my Hi-Lo this weekend. Put antifreeze in the water lines, lubed all of the cables with the Blaster lubricant, WD-40 all of the pulleys. Used the paraffin wax on all of the guides. That puppy hums when it raises and lowers now. Great advice obtained from all!!! Love this forum. I guess the dealer took crappy care of the Hi-Lo I bought but now it seems like it is brand new! Will be posting pics soon in the pic area! :)

replacing the cables
 

:confused: My dad has a 1975 21' hi-lo and the cables under it that raise it up and down are starting to fray, and we need to replace them is there somewhere we can go to get a diagram on how to replace them?

Search cable replacement. They are all pretty much the same. You can make your own cable or buy from jr repair.

For what it's worth, in my manual it states that the cables are "aircraft-type."

cable replacement
 

I'm not sure if the cable replacement would be the same. Ask JR in Ohio or Midget trailer repair in Ohio. See if this post will help you. 3-3-2010 Cable replacement in my 1998 HiLo 24TD. It is fifteen pages long. Chucked full of wonderful information. Best of luck with your repairs.

Here is what you're after. And you can't beat the price.Galvanized Aircraft Cable Wire Rope 1 4" 7x19 125 ft Reel | eBay

I sent you a private message on this subject.

You mention the Library. Is this a section of the HiLo forum?