Any hints what to look for? Can't get a mobile mechanic until Monday as it's a holiday weekend.
DRV Mobile Suites 36TKBS3. The kitchen (off door) slideout won't close. The motor goes on but then becomes quieter, but nothing engages. We are parking in relative's back yard and not hooked up to anything, although still no action using the genny.
Batteries are 2 Ford motorcraft 6V batteries in series. There appears to be some corrosion at the bottom of the tray, but the volt meter measures 13.6V. Also, the other 2 slides are working fine, so we don't think it's a battery issue.
Investigated around the tracks, outside and inside and there are no obstructions.
What else should we be looking for?
Thanks for your help.
TRAILERKING said
01:39 PM Jul 4, 2014
Possibly a "Shear Pin"???
cherylbrv said
01:47 PM Jul 4, 2014
For the newbie -- what is a shear pin, and where would one find it?
bigboomer said
02:30 PM Jul 4, 2014
Cheryl,
Are these electric cables slides? If they are possibly a cable broke.
Are they hydraulic? If they are possibly the hydraulic fluid is low or maybe a line or connection is loose and leaking.
Penny and Paul said
03:51 PM Jul 4, 2014
Cheryl,
The shear pin is part of the gear assembly that moves the slide. It locks the motor gear to an axel shaft, (or something that performs the same task) which in turn is connected to the mechanism that moves the slide. If the slide meets undue resistance when it tries to move, the shear pin will shear rather than breaking a gear, burning up the motor, or tearing itself to bits. It kind of sacrifices itself coz it's an inexpensive part, and the rest of the works are $$$. When the pin shears, the motor gear can turn, but the axel won't turn because it is no longer locked to the motor gear. Start looking at the motor and go downstream from there. I can't be more specific than that without knowing how your slide is built. It can be a DIY, if your comfortable with doing mechanical work, and have the tools. If you need to have a service guy work on it, the main cost will be labor.
Paul
cheryls-other-half said
04:10 PM Jul 4, 2014
Penny and Paul wrote:
Cheryl,
The shear pin is part of the gear assembly that moves the slide. It locks the motor gear to an axel shaft, (or something that performs the same task) which in turn is connected to the mechanism that moves the slide. If the slide meets undue resistance when it tries to move, the shear pin will shear rather than breaking a gear, burning up the motor, or tearing itself to bits. It kind of sacrifices itself coz it's an inexpensive part, and the rest of the works are $$$. When the pin shears, the motor gear can turn, but the axel won't turn because it is no longer locked to the motor gear. Start looking at the motor and go downstream from there. I can't be more specific than that without knowing how your slide is built. It can be a DIY, if your comfortable with doing mechanical work, and have the tools. If you need to have a service guy work on it, the main cost will be labor.
Paul
Howdy y'all (we ARE in Florida now, after all!)
Thanks to all.
1) it's a Hydralic slide. No I didn't check the hydraulic fluid yet. 2) the other two slides (liv room and bedroom) are working fine. 3) I did check the voltage on the RV battery, and it was 13.6 volts. Have been drydocking for 2 days now (moved yesterday, slides were ok closing). Can I plug my battery charger/conditioner (100Amp starting) into the RV battery too?
They said no one is available until mondy because of the holiday. I will try and see what the level of the hydralic fluid (I was told it uses Auto Transmission fluid) in it, but as the other two slides are fine, I agree it sounds like a pin.
Not sure where to look to see if one of the pins sheared off.
Thanks again for your ideas and suggestions.. Meantime, couldn't have happened at a better place (unless my brother actually had a 50 amp circuit for me...)
Cheers and happy 4th to all
Bill and Linda said
04:47 PM Jul 4, 2014
cheryls-other-half wrote:
1) it's a Hydralic slide. No I didn't check the hydraulic fluid yet. 2) the other two slides (liv room and bedroom) are working fine. 3) I did check the voltage on the RV battery, and it was 13.6 volts. They said no one is available until mondy because of the holiday. I will try and see what the level of the hydralic fluid (I was told it uses Auto Transmission fluid) in it, but as the other two slides are fine, I agree it sounds like a pin.
Not sure where to look to see if one of the pins sheared off.
Thanks again for your ideas and suggestions.. Meantime, couldn't have happened at a better place (unless my brother actually had a 50 amp circuit for me...)
Cheers and happy 4th to all
If the other two slides are working it’s (not likely) the battery.No need to put another battery charger on the batteries.
Based on what you are saying it is probably:
1 – The hydraulic value (next to the pump) isn’t opening to put fluid to the cylinder due to whatever reason - age - loose connection, etc.
2 – Yea, it could be a sheer pin and that's no unusual
3 – If the pump is running when you press the button to close the slide then it is most likely #1
Most hydraulic valves can be opened manually and you can try that when the button is pushed - read the manual as to how to do this.
cheryls-other-half said
05:53 PM Jul 4, 2014
Bill and Linda wrote:
cheryls-other-half wrote:
1) it's a Hydralic slide. No I didn't check the hydraulic fluid yet. 2) the other two slides (liv room and bedroom) are working fine. 3) I did check the voltage on the RV battery, and it was 13.6 volts. They said no one is available until mondy because of the holiday. I will try and see what the level of the hydralic fluid (I was told it uses Auto Transmission fluid) in it, but as the other two slides are fine, I agree it sounds like a pin.
Not sure where to look to see if one of the pins sheared off.
Thanks again for your ideas and suggestions.. Meantime, couldn't have happened at a better place (unless my brother actually had a 50 amp circuit for me...)
Cheers and happy 4th to all
If the other two slides are working it’s (not likely) the battery.No need to put another battery charger on the batteries.
Based on what you are saying it is probably:
1 – The hydraulic value (next to the pump) isn’t opening to put fluid to the cylinder due to whatever reason - age - loose connection, etc.
2 – Yea, it could be a sheer pin and that's no unusual
3 – If the pump is running when you press the button to close the slide then it is most likely #1
Most hydraulic valves can be opened manually and you can try that when the button is pushed - read the manual as to how to do this.
Interesting. Thanks for the suggestion to check #3, if pump was running. I was watching as the pump was running and I saw a piston going nowhere fast. Turns out the door slide, (and I guess the bedroom slide) both have only ONE piston going to pull slide in and out, it looks like the bedroom slide is missing the NUT on the end of the slide, thus not in the frame and closing.
So. it looks like (is this normal?) or very common?? the bolt that holds the piston which extends the slide, is now freely going in and out, as it is not connected via a nut to the part that the frame goes in.
Interesting, is life. is it not?
Penny and Paul said
07:39 PM Jul 4, 2014
cheryls-other-half wrote:
Bill and Linda wrote:
cheryls-other-half wrote:
1) it's a Hydralic slide. No I didn't check the hydraulic fluid yet. 2) the other two slides (liv room and bedroom) are working fine. 3) I did check the voltage on the RV battery, and it was 13.6 volts. They said no one is available until mondy because of the holiday. I will try and see what the level of the hydralic fluid (I was told it uses Auto Transmission fluid) in it, but as the other two slides are fine, I agree it sounds like a pin.
Not sure where to look to see if one of the pins sheared off.
Thanks again for your ideas and suggestions.. Meantime, couldn't have happened at a better place (unless my brother actually had a 50 amp circuit for me...)
Cheers and happy 4th to all
If the other two slides are working it’s (not likely) the battery.No need to put another battery charger on the batteries.
Based on what you are saying it is probably:
1 – The hydraulic value (next to the pump) isn’t opening to put fluid to the cylinder due to whatever reason - age - loose connection, etc.
2 – Yea, it could be a sheer pin and that's no unusual
3 – If the pump is running when you press the button to close the slide then it is most likely #1
Most hydraulic valves can be opened manually and you can try that when the button is pushed - read the manual as to how to do this.
Interesting. Thanks for the suggestion to check #3, if pump was running. I was watching as the pump was running and I saw a piston going nowhere fast. Turns out the door slide, (and I guess the bedroom slide) both have only ONE piston going to pull slide in and out, it looks like the bedroom slide is missing the NUT on the end of the slide, thus not in the frame and closing.
So. it looks like (is this normal?) or very common?? the bolt that holds the piston which extends the slide, is now freely going in and out, as it is not connected via a nut to the part that the frame goes in.
Interesting, is life. is it not?
Way to go. You da man!
RickandJanice said
05:31 AM Jul 5, 2014
Mitch & Cheryl, glad you found the problem. It is not common for these rams to come loose, they should have double nut where they connect to prevent this from happening. Sounds like a nut was left off either at the factory or when someone was doing maintenance on the slide at some point. Also left you a message on the SOITC forum about checking hydraulic fluid and the proper sequence for operating the slides.
The slide on these units do have only one hydraulic ram. You will also notice there are heavy square tubes located at each end of the slides that have gear teeth on the under side. These are the actual slide mechanics that the slide rides on and keeps the ends in line while moving because they are held in sync by the same gear. The hydraulic rams only apply the force to move the slide in and out. For future reference, if a pin on either of these gears breaks, the slide will either bind up or not close evenly.
cheryls-other-half said
10:38 PM Jul 5, 2014
Well, I did see that the other two slides had two nuts on them. Wish I had known to check under the, slide before..
At least I know that is most likely problem when I get tech out here Monday...
Cheers to all
rv-vagabond said
02:09 PM Jul 6, 2014
There are several different types of ATF. Be careful in what fluid you put into the hydraulic reservoir. The wrong type of fluid can destroy seals.
Any hints what to look for? Can't get a mobile mechanic until Monday as it's a holiday weekend.
DRV Mobile Suites 36TKBS3. The kitchen (off door) slideout won't close. The motor goes on but then becomes quieter, but nothing engages. We are parking in relative's back yard and not hooked up to anything, although still no action using the genny.
Batteries are 2 Ford motorcraft 6V batteries in series. There appears to be some corrosion at the bottom of the tray, but the volt meter measures 13.6V. Also, the other 2 slides are working fine, so we don't think it's a battery issue.
Investigated around the tracks, outside and inside and there are no obstructions.
What else should we be looking for?
Thanks for your help.
Cheryl,
The shear pin is part of the gear assembly that moves the slide. It locks the motor gear to an axel shaft, (or something that performs the same task) which in turn is connected to the mechanism that moves the slide. If the slide meets undue resistance when it tries to move, the shear pin will shear rather than breaking a gear, burning up the motor, or tearing itself to bits. It kind of sacrifices itself coz it's an inexpensive part, and the rest of the works are $$$. When the pin shears, the motor gear can turn, but the axel won't turn because it is no longer locked to the motor gear. Start looking at the motor and go downstream from there. I can't be more specific than that without knowing how your slide is built. It can be a DIY, if your comfortable with doing mechanical work, and have the tools. If you need to have a service guy work on it, the main cost will be labor.
Paul
Howdy y'all (we ARE in Florida now, after all!)
Thanks to all.
1) it's a Hydralic slide.
No I didn't check the hydraulic fluid yet.
2) the other two slides (liv room and bedroom) are working fine.
3) I did check the voltage on the RV battery, and it was 13.6 volts.
Have been drydocking for 2 days now (moved yesterday, slides were ok closing).
Can I plug my battery charger/conditioner (100Amp starting) into the RV battery too?
They said no one is available until mondy because of the holiday.
I will try and see what the level of the hydralic fluid (I was told it uses Auto Transmission fluid) in it, but as the other two slides are fine, I agree it sounds like a pin.
Not sure where to look to see if one of the pins sheared off.
Thanks again for your ideas and suggestions..
Meantime, couldn't have happened at a better place (unless my brother actually had a 50 amp circuit for me...)
Cheers and happy 4th to all
If the other two slides are working it’s (not likely) the battery. No need to put another battery charger on the batteries.
Based on what you are saying it is probably:
1 – The hydraulic value (next to the pump) isn’t opening to put fluid to the cylinder due to whatever reason - age - loose connection, etc.
2 – Yea, it could be a sheer pin and that's no unusual
3 – If the pump is running when you press the button to close the slide then it is most likely #1
Most hydraulic valves can be opened manually and you can try that when the button is pushed - read the manual as to how to do this.
Interesting. Thanks for the suggestion to check #3, if pump was running.
I was watching as the pump was running and I saw a piston going nowhere fast.
Turns out the door slide, (and I guess the bedroom slide) both have only ONE piston going to pull slide in and out,
it looks like the bedroom slide is missing the NUT on the end of the slide, thus not in the frame and closing.
So. it looks like (is this normal?) or very common??
the bolt that holds the piston which extends the slide, is now freely going in and out, as it is not connected via a nut to the part that the frame goes in.
Interesting, is life. is it not?
Way to go. You da man!
The slide on these units do have only one hydraulic ram. You will also notice there are heavy square tubes located at each end of the slides that have gear teeth on the under side. These are the actual slide mechanics that the slide rides on and keeps the ends in line while moving because they are held in sync by the same gear. The hydraulic rams only apply the force to move the slide in and out. For future reference, if a pin on either of these gears breaks, the slide will either bind up or not close evenly.