Cable slides on 2012 3750FL

[DAR]

hello to all, I have been Lurking around MOC for a little over a year now, I have enjoyed reading and learning from the many post's.

My Problem is with my Living Room slides we Purchased our unit used (one 2 week trip to Yosemite) in 2011 from the original owners. The Purchase date was May 31 2011,we received it in October 2011, basically a brand new unit.according to the service records It appears the original owners had troubles with the system. On Our first trip in May of 2012 from Ca. to Mo. the right side cable broke in Ok. and unit is now out of Warranty Contacted Keystone they told us to take it to dealer. Took it to the Dealer when we returned. Cable system was repaired and Keystone covered it. We didn't use it till June of this year on a short trip 50 mile from home and the Left side cable broke.
Same thing called Keystone take it to dealer.Did that and Again Keystone covered it. Kuddos to Keystone unit is over a year out of Warranty. now to the Current issue took a trip from Ca. to Northern Id. 1st of August Open the Slides and do walk around to examine condition of cables ( I am Very nervous to even open these slide seems every time i use them one breaks) I see Frays on all 4 cables about 1 inch from the bracket on the right side slide hmmm these are going to break again I can see that already,go around to the Left side and the top cable is not even there, Huh??? how can that be? I'm thinking it just slipped off maybe tech didn't get it put back on right?? well when we returned we take it back to dealer. Service writer says no prob work is still under warranty we will take care of it , right on I'm happy. I checked in with him yesterday and he says the New cable Broke again! Wow. I guess my question is has anybody else had this kind of trouble with there cable slides in particular the living room slide on the 3750fl. Also Anybody have any ideas what is going wrong I have searched this Forum and haven't found any issues of this magnitude, only an occasional cable break. i have also looked on Norco's Site for more info,My Thoughts are that the Brackets on the slide are not set right and need realignment to ensure they do not rub and there is not any stress on the cables when they are closed. Look forward to the wisdom of the MOC Gurus. Thank You Don

[bncinwv]

It definitely sounds like something is out of adjustment and the slides are either binding or the cable is rubbing against something. We have never had a problem at all with our cable slides in the two years we have had the 3750
Bingo.

[seahunter]

No issues with our living room slides either. I know one thing that scares me though is the speed of the motors. Those things just zoom in and out, they look like they're just going to shoot right out the sides of the trailer!

[Montana3800RE]

When we had a cable problem on our 3800RE, it was due to Frame Flex, the slide frame was moving while traveling down the road rubbing against the cables...http://i43.tinypic.com/2lkxpht_th.jpg just my 2 cents worth

[Captain Joe]

During our 30 months owning a 2011 3750FL, we had no problems. Obviously, something is eating the cables. Good luck

[DAR]

quote:Originally posted by Montana3800RE

When we had a cable problem on our 3800RE, it was due to Frame Flex, the slide frame was moving while traveling down the road rubbing against the cables...http://i43.tinypic.com/2lkxpht_th.jpg just my 2 cents worth

Interesting Thought I have noticed since I installed the level on the pin box driving down the road I can see the nose dipping down behind the level, I just thought that it was the More Ryde Flexing I might need to do some more checking on that one.

[DAR]

quote:Originally posted by bncinwv

It definitely sounds like something is out of adjustment and the slides are either binding or the cable is rubbing against something. We have never had a problem at all with our cable slides in the two years we have had the 3750
Bingo.

This is my thoughts too. Called Keystone and they wouldn't Offer anything up except to have the dealer check it out and then present a case to Keystone if they find anything wrong. Looks Like I will have to commit to cover the cost until then. I don't see how it can be anything except an issue when it was built.

[bncinwv]

Unless something is broke beneath the nose cap which is the primary area where frame flex occurs. Keystone usually steps up to the plate in this situation. The dealer (or you) should be able to remove the horizontal sheet beneath the nose cap and do a quick look at the structural members and welds. If the nose is moving, that could very well indicate frame flex and could result in a sawing effect between the main walls andthe front slides.
Bingo

[moutard2]

I had a cable break but it wasn't a wire issue but rather the knobby thing at the end broke away from the wire and subsequently out of the bracket. I'm not sure these cable assemblies are of the finest quality.

[DAR]

[quote]Originally posted by bncinwv

Unless something is broke beneath the nose cap which is the primary area where frame flex occurs. Keystone usually steps up to the plate in this situation. The dealer (or you) should be able to remove the horizontal sheet beneath the nose cap and do a quick look at the structural members and welds. If the nose is moving, that could very well indicate frame flex and could result in a sawing effect between the main walls and the front slides.
Bingo
[/quote
I will check that when i get the unit back from the dealer. Spoke to my service adviser today He is hesitant to do anything other than what I am committed to pay for And I am hesitant to commit to an open ended repair bill to disassemble the front slides to see if they can find any issues, Keystone wont commit to anything without the dealer finding a problem. Looks like we are running in circles

[bncinwv]

The other thing I would recommend is to have someone close the slides while you check the function of the cables, both from the inside and from the outside. They can start and stop the slides a little at a time so you can evaluate what is happening and whether the cable is being bound or contacting somewhere. That at least would be a cheap check!
Bingo

[Irlpguy]

Dar there is a document sheet on the Lippert website that tells you how to check their frame for upper deck flex. This was not the procedure recommended by Keystone, and which was used by my dealer however it is Lipperts instructions. I have information on the Keystone procedure if you are interested.

I had significant flex on my 3402RL which partially separated the outer wall from the aluminum frame at the bedroom slide and the wall panel in the front closet buckled and cracked. Keystone through the dealer did a "field repair" the same as was done on Montana3800RE unit. I will never be convinced this did anything to reduce the flex, however it did conceal (so far) any separations and cracking.

Perhaps as suggested by Montana3800RE your problems are occurring while you are traveling, of course they could be related to poor alignment and perhaps other factors I know nothing about since I do not have cable slides.

Here is the link to Lippert website and test procedure. http://lci1.com/images/Flyers/LIPShe...structions.pdf

Might give you some insight as I had 3/8" of flex indicated using this procedure, I then contacted Keystone and the dealer and the field repair was completed.

I hope you get to the bottom of this and it gets resolved to your satisfaction.

[DAR]

quote:Originally posted by bncinwv

The other thing I would recommend is to have someone close the slides while you check the function of the cables, both from the inside and from the outside. They can start and stop the slides a little at a time so you can evaluate what is happening and whether the cable is being bound or contacting somewhere. That at least would be a cheap check!
Bingo

Once again another great idea to add to the list Thanks Bingo

[DAR]

quote:Originally posted by Irlpguy

Dar there is a document sheet on the Lippert website that tells you how to check their frame for upper deck flex. This was not the procedure recommended by Keystone, and which was used by my dealer however it is Lipperts instructions. I have information on the Keystone procedure if you are interested.

I had significant flex on my 3402RL which partially separated the outer wall from the aluminum frame at the bedroom slide and the wall panel in the front closet buckled and cracked. Keystone through the dealer did a "field repair" the same as was done on Montana3800RE unit. I will never be convinced this did anything to reduce the flex, however it did conceal (so far) any separations and cracking.

Perhaps as suggested by Montana3800RE your problems are occurring while you are traveling, of course they could be related to poor alignment and perhaps other factors I know nothing about since I do not have cable slides.

Here is the link to Lippert website and test procedure. http://lci1.com/images/Flyers/LIPShe...structions.pdf

Might give you some insight as I had 3/8" of flex indicated using this procedure, I then contacted Keystone and the dealer and the field repair was completed.

I hope you get to the bottom of this and it gets resolved to your satisfaction.

Thank You Good information I will add this to my list also does the Keystone method differ much from lipperts?

[Irlpguy]

Dar I have sent you a PM with some further information.

[DAR]

quote:Originally posted by Irlpguy

Dar I have sent you a PM with some further information.

Got it thank you

[DAR]

Brought the monty home yesterday thought I would post some pics I hope they show enough detail my first attempt at posting images
Passenger side cable fray this cable was replaced 12/2012 Notice the kink and slight fray close to the bracket
[img][/img]
This is the lower front of the slide opening at first I suspected I needed to caulk the seams
started looking when checking for frame flex and seen some movement in these seams
[img][/img]
I tried to show of where the cable enters the slide frame there are obvious cable wear areas
[img][/img]
this next one is from the the rear of the same slide
[img][/img]
This is from the cable that was repaired this week looks like the dealers answer to rub is to cover it with antisieze I didn't get a pic of the cable that is so loose it sags it is the Drivers side front
[img][/img]
This one shows the Front frame separation on the door side
[img][/img]
this is the frame on the rear of the drivers side Slide
[img][/img]
The Cable Entrance on the Rear of the Drivers side


So now my question is does your slides have any of these same signs of wear or separation?

I Measured for frame flex the best I could according to the Lippert Flex Measurement Page and the measurements seem to be right on they are all the same with and without weight on the pin.
I also did the sidewall flex measurement as per Irlpguy's suggestion and there seems to be very little movement in the joint

[bncinwv]

We are going camping next weekend and I will take the same series of photographs for comparison. I do not remember anything like that and ours is a year previous model!
Bingo

[DAR]

Thanks Bingo Hope yours DOESN'T have the same signs. it still looks to me like an install issue. I'm am just not familiar with these slide or any slides actually our last 5er was built in 1987 nothing fancy.

[Montana3800RE]

quote:Originally posted by DAR

Got it thank you

Looks to me Frame Flex for sure while traveling down the road...