Slideout hydraulic seal leaking - Montana Owners Club

mikestock · 03-30-2010, 01:18 PM

One of my four slides on my 2007, 3500RL has developed a fluid leak from the rod seal and after inspection I found rods on all three of the exposed cylenders to be seriously pitted. Chrome has flaked off in spots from all three rods. I have yet to check the bed slide.

I called my Montana dealer and got a replacement cost of $275 for the cylinder. The shop manager said that the cylinders could not be repaired.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced similar problems or tried to replace the seal. I cannot see the cylinder well enough to tell if the gland can be removed and reinstalled.

Also would like to hear from anyone who knows of a source for a replacement cylinder at a cheaper price. I will probably be looking at problems with all three and possibly all four cylinders.

thor · 03-30-2010, 03:03 PM

you mite find simialer size cylinders at tsc or a hydralic shop for less money.hope that hopes

Mudchief · 03-31-2010, 03:16 AM

I have not heard of a cylinder that could not be rebuilt. Check with a local cylinder shop a see how much it would cost to replace the rod and put in a new seal. On the cylinders that have the pitting they too will start to leak.

SlickWillie · 03-31-2010, 04:30 AM

I'm with Mudchief on this one; they can be rebuilt. But, it won't take long for a machine shop to run up a bigger bill than the cost of the new cylinders, especially if they have to disassemble and re-assemble the cylinders.

The cylinders are not hard to replace. Hardest part for me was removing the membrane under the RV. If you have the slides out for extended periods, you might want to coat the new rods with grease while extended. This will prevent any future pitting.

racerjoe · 03-31-2010, 05:52 AM

If you know your bore and stroke of the cylinders, try Northern tool or www.surplus center.com they might have replacements.

mikestock · 03-31-2010, 08:34 AM

I cannot see the gland well enough to tell how it is installed. If I can get the gland out and resecured I think I can smooth up the rod enough to minimize leakage. If not, I can purchase a piece af stock chrome plated rod and get it threaded. Since I expect three cylinders to fail similarly I still may experiment with this one. I did represent a cylinder repair shop and do have some background in cylinder repair.

If noone has had any experience with removing the gland on this type cylinder I guess I will have to remove a cylinder and go from there.

Since I purchased the RV new I think Montana must have used some contaminated fluid originally. I have never before taken the top off the fluid tank.

dieselguy · 03-31-2010, 04:13 PM

These are pretty cheap (made not priced) cylinders. There is an internal snap ring holding the gland/seal in. Personally, I think you're wasting your time thinking of resealing them if the rod has pits. You can't sand out pits. You'll just make lots of low spots that won't seal well. The replacement rod idea would better serve your time if you have access to a lathe. Look around as indicated in previous postings, you may find an exact replacement.
Mudchief: Believe it or not at my job, we've been getting what I'd call throw away cylinders made in China. They are crimped assembled and as far as we can tell and cannot be disassembled without destroying them ... welcome to 21st century ingenuity.

mikestock · 03-31-2010, 05:29 PM

Well, I was lucky enough to run into a Montana owner in Topsail Hill Preserve SP who got me on track with Leppert, the original manufacturer. They do show the cylinder, available on their website for #215, which is better than my dealer, Rollin-On-RV, quoted. This source also told me that they warranty their cylinders for 5 years. I will check this out.

The deal is, I get a small spurt of fluid as I retract the slide. Otherwise there is no leak. I know there is the possibility that it can get bad enough that the slide won't retract.

Crossthread · 03-31-2010, 06:34 PM

mikestock, Be careful cycling the slides in and out. If a piece of debri comes off the ram, it can cause problems in the pump. These things does not have a filter on them. Bill

stimpy123 · 04-03-2010, 01:53 PM

I had my one slide hydraulic ram replaced by Good Sam Continuous Service Plan (GSP). My selling dealer told me that the ram and cylinder were rebuildable, and that he could get me one, but that in a short time, I think that he said 90 days, that the ram would leak again. Price tag on my 09 3605RL was about $800. The $100 deductible was all I needed to pay. There was the wait time to order the correct one, and the overnight shipping and then about 4 hours to replace the ram. It was the front ram on the kitchen slide, Road side of my rig. Hope this helps.

mikestock · 04-04-2010, 04:31 PM

Leppert did confirm that their cylinders were guaranteed for 5 years. I have to get some further details and call back to see how they handle replacements.

mikestock · 07-03-2010, 04:45 PM

Well, as it turned out, Leppert contended that the cylinder was left exposed to the elements for too long a time, thus creating the problem. I replied that the cylinders had always been retracted except when camping.

They then replied that the slides were left out for too long a period by Rollin-On-RV, the dealer, while on their lot. I could not defend this since I was not aware of the history before my purchase, although it was new.

They agreed to sell me a cylinder at dealer cost of around $123 as opposed to retail cost of $215.68.

I accepted this, as I figured the war was no longer worth waging. I changed it out myself but I still have two more pitted cylinders that are not yet leaking.

sreigle · 07-04-2010, 07:32 AM

I'm having trouble understanding why a chrome plated cylinder sitting still in extended position would pit because of that exposure. It just doesn't make sense to me. There are too many rigs out there that have not had this problem. I think something was amiss in the manufacturing process. Perhaps a bad chrome job or bad preparation prior to applying the chrome or maybe something else. I suspect Lippert didn't treat you right on this.

I'm sorry it's costing you money. I hope you'll very closely inspect the new one for anything that doesn't look right.

I wonder if a good machine shop could smooth out those pits for you on the remaining cylinders.

mikestock · 07-05-2010, 06:04 AM

I have changed out the cylinder, but I still have two others that are pitted, although not yet leaking. I have tried to smoothe out the rough ridges with 600 grit emory cloth.

I agree that the weather shouldn't attack the chrome that quickly, but I can't fight the issue and LCI doesn't show any sign of giving in.

When I called Rollin On RV with the problem, which was my original move, he only offered to sell me another cylinder at a price (can't remember exactly) in excess of Leppert's retail price..

As for a machine shop: I would only remove the cylinders to replace them. At $123 each it just wouldn't be worth it. They are not that easy to remove and replace.

For lack of any way to fight the issue further I guess my best strategy is to just put up the cash and forget it. They don't want to warranty the cylinders and my only other alternative is to get a lawyer. This would, of course cost me more than buying replacements myself.

Tom S. · 07-06-2010, 04:35 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by mikestock

Well, as it turned out, Leppert contended that the cylinder was left exposed to the elements for too long a time, thus creating the problem. I replied that the cylinders had always been retracted except when camping.

Wow! My thoughts on that are completely un-printable on this site. Let's just say that part of it has to do with bovine excrement.

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