Mayday, Mayday -- Slide Out HELP needed! - Montana Owners Club

bncinwv · 06-01-2008, 12:26 PM

Got back from the NE rally and started to extend the slides and unbeknownst to me there was a flip-flop that prevented the bedroom slide from completing it's extension. The slides retracted back in but now they will not extend. I looked for a breaker in the battery compartment and couldn't find anything. Is there a fuse somewhere on a 3400 that I don't know about or is there a way to manually extend them to get access to the rear of the rig. Gotta get stuff unloaded! HELP HELP HELP please!!!!
Bingo

drjjj · 06-01-2008, 12:41 PM

I have been told that you can use a cordless drill on the slide motor with some type of adapter in case of power failure, but have never done it.

bsmeaton · 06-01-2008, 01:07 PM

Bingo,

There is a nut in the end of the motor shaft that you can run with a drill if you have the right nut driver.

The slide motor has a breaker (small silver box) on the firewall behind the battery. If you can't get any power through it, just bypass it, or jumper straight from the batteries to the slide motor and figure out the problem later.

Parrothead · 06-01-2008, 02:05 PM

Bingo
You should have received a handle that will retract the slides manually. I've been told a tire iron works also but never tried it.
Happy trails.....................

8.1al · 06-01-2008, 02:17 PM

Bingo,
The motor for the slide pump has a hex drive on the end, may be covered by a sticker. Take a long screw bit and put it backwards into the chuck of a cordless drill then stick the bit into the pump.

bncinwv · 06-01-2008, 02:27 PM

I tried the hex bit (after cutting a hole in the aluminum generator compartment for the drill) with a drill and nothing happened. I also used jumper cables from the battery to the top of the actuator and could hear it click when I had DW press the OUT switich inside. It is odd that they retracted no problem but won't extend. Any other ideas. We have a bunch of clothes being held hostage in the bedroom. On another note, what is the Lippert warranty, don't I remember two years. If not, guess I will have to check if they are covered on the "extended service plan" At least we don't need the rig for awhile and may have to have the fridge looked at for the latest recall.
Bingo

Bill-N-Donna · 06-01-2008, 02:27 PM

Bingo, glad to hear that you made it home ok. Sorry to hear about the slide but I don't think I can be of any help.

OBTW, tell Sue we said hello!

(LOL)

rogue · 06-01-2008, 02:45 PM

Bingo, On the main MOC page there is a Maintenance Check list, there is a picture of the Slide Bolt, these are sheer bolts. Are all of yours in place on each slide? The smaller slides like the bedroom on the 2955RL does not have the bolts. If you only hear the motor click, and you can not get a slide out with the drill and bit, it sounds like there is a bind in one of the slides. Wish I could help more.
Bob

bncinwv · 06-01-2008, 02:52 PM

Bob,
Wouldn't the other slides work though. And I would assume they wouldn't retract if the shear bolt was broken. Just thoughts, guess the dealer will get a new project.
Bingo

bsmeaton · 06-01-2008, 03:27 PM

Bingo,

If you want to test that motor, the 3 small wires on the reversing solenoid control it. Just jumper the center spade to either of the outer ones. The motor should spin. If you just get a click, the motor is toast. After you try it one way, you can test the other way by jumping the center spade to the alternate outer one. If you don't get the click, it could be the solenoid is bad.

If you are getting strong clicks but the motor isn't spinning, one additional last resort is a sharp blow to the edge of the motor casing with a ball peen hammer. It might be enough to free up a stuck armature. (used to work on starter motors all the time)

bncinwv · 06-01-2008, 04:04 PM

Thanks Brad,
I'll try that tomorrow evening. When I used the jumper cables direct from the battery to the large center post on top of the unit all I got was a click when the switch inside was pressed. I give up for tonight (10:00 here) and after seven hours on the road today I am beat. If all else fails, the dealer will get it back next weekend.
Bingo

sreigle · 06-01-2008, 05:59 PM

Bingo, if nothing else works, go to the Member list, find MIMF or MIMF2 and click to email him. That's Dale, the guy who used to work at Lippert and knows these things inside out. He's also very helpful and a very nice guy.

kmh3212 · 06-01-2008, 08:30 PM

Is the fluid reservoir full?
Any type ATF fluid. I use Mercon. Good luck!

Waynem · 06-02-2008, 02:30 AM

Fluid should be 1/2 inch from the top of the container with the slides pulled in.

bncinwv · 06-02-2008, 06:33 AM

I will likewise check the fluid level. Seems like it was substantially lower than 1/2" from the top of the reservoir.
Bingo

Ronnelly · 06-02-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by bncinwv

I tried the hex bit (after cutting a hole in the aluminum generator compartment for the drill) with a drill and nothing happened. I also used jumper cables from the battery to the top of the actuator and could hear it click when I had DW press the OUT switich inside. It is odd that they retracted no problem but won't extend. Any other ideas. We have a bunch of clothes being held hostage in the bedroom. On another note, what is the Lippert warranty, don't I remember two years. If not, guess I will have to check if they are covered on the "extended service plan" At least we don't need the rig for awhile and may have to have the fridge looked at for the latest recall.
Bingo

sreigle · 06-02-2008, 03:18 PM

I think 1/2 inch is the closest it is supposed to be. It's ok to be lower so long as it's not too low when the slides are in the other direction.

To keep an eye on ours as to whether we are losing fluid, I used an indelible marker to mark the fluid level with slides retracted and again when extended. I also dated those lines so I could tell how quickly it's going down. I sure can't rely on this memory to save and recall those details!

bsmeaton · 06-03-2008, 08:54 AM

get'r fixed yet Bingo?

bncinwv · 06-03-2008, 09:04 AM

Hey Brad,
Never had time last night getting the long-promised electrical protection photos taken, downloaded and posted. If it quits raining here, I am going to try your electrical motor tests this evening or tomorrow. I also took Steve's advice and e-mailed Dale (MIMF2). We got the clothes liberated so the Mayday status has been reduced to one of frustration. Oh well, if I can't get anything resolved the dealer can take care of it, they are only 5-6 miles away and I am going to move the rig from the drive-way to the rig back in mini-storage next door to them anyway. I figure the neighbor's are tired of looking at the beast in the driveway!! Other than a weekend trip or two, nothing is planned until the annual Myrtle Beach trip at the end of July. On the bright side, I now have an excuse to spend more time on the boat since it won't be taking time away from camping!!
Bingo

bsmeaton · 06-03-2008, 09:46 AM

Thar ya go!

Now if it was me, I would fiddle around and get them stuck "out" so I couldn't get it to the Dealer

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