Thought I'd share this (Slide Wire Support) - Montana Owners Club

kwbosch · 01-02-2006, 09:47 AM

Hi All,

After our last trip, I found the entertainment slide wire support completely broken and hanging down almost dragging the ground.
Since I have absolutely no faith in my dealer’s ability to competently repair anything, I decided to fix this myself. Here's what I did.

Broken support: I’m holding it in place for the picture.

I just happened to have an old gate hinge in the garage.
I had to drill one extra hole in the steel channel to get the second screw to line up.
(slide open)

Here’s a picture of the repaired support with the slide closed.

Here’s a picture of my main slide (dining table-couch) that’s about to break.

So far, I have repaired our brakes (shorted wire, driver’s side, rear wheel) and this slide support.

I also noticed our black tank flush has quit working.
Most likely due to the anti-siphon device sticking,
So far, I can’t find the darned thing to fix it.

HTH,

Ken Bosch

Illini Trekker · 01-02-2006, 12:48 PM

Did the brake thing, now i'll watch out for the support, did'nt last very long! Nice fix! See-ya

lightningjack11 · 01-02-2006, 01:49 PM

Thanks for sharing.

Countryfolks · 01-02-2006, 03:09 PM

Try looking in the wall between the shower and the washer/coat closet for the valve. We found one there on our 3500.

Skip

TheCoachPotatoes · 01-02-2006, 03:58 PM

Sorry about your problems. Glad you are handy and able to fix things. We found the valve in the vanity under bathroom sink in our 3670.

Montana Sky · 01-02-2006, 08:34 PM

Thanks for bringing that to our attention, I have added this to my list of things to check out this spring. Learn something new here everyday. =)

MIMF2 · 01-03-2006, 01:38 AM

Ken,

Nice fix!! The only suggestion that we can add to this that you may have wanted to use zinc coated hinges unstead to guard against rust and corrosion. I showed this to our manufacturing people and we could not have done any better. Good job!

Dale

DHenry · 01-03-2006, 04:08 AM

Ken, thanks for that heads up and all the pictures. Pictures are truly worth a thousand words. We found our anti siphon valve under the bedroom sink. I removed it and pulled down the line into the under belly and installed a ball valve so I just open it when I use the black tank flush and close it so it will not siphon back when I am done using it.

kwbosch · 01-03-2006, 07:35 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by MIMF2

Ken,

Nice fix!! The only suggestion that we can add to this that you may have wanted to use zinc coated hinges unstead to guard against rust and corrosion. I showed this to our manufacturing people and we could not have done any better. Good job!

Dale

Hi Dale,

You're right, I should have taken the drive to the hardware store for a galvanized hinge and flat head screws but I was in a hurry and well, you know how that goes.
I'll have the proper hardware ready for when the main slide breaks and fix both sides at that time.
I think the plastic strip design would have greater longevity if the strip were longer. As it is now, the strip is bent almost 90° causing too much stress when the slides are out.

Ken

mobilrvn · 01-03-2006, 07:39 AM

As usual, we wonder why your the S/O wire guide broke, especially when you had a second one on its last leg? Is it an alignment problem, bad material or ?? Has anyone else had this experience?

Nice repair job. Think I would have drilled the hinge and not the frame to make it fit. No longer trust any additional holes that could cause a failure--any comments?

kwbosch · 01-03-2006, 08:20 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by DHenry

Ken, thanks for that heads up and all the pictures. Pictures are truly worth a thousand words. We found our anti siphon valve under the bedroom sink. I removed it and pulled down the line into the under belly and installed a ball valve so I just open it when I use the black tank flush and close it so it will not siphon back when I am done using it.

Doug,

By “under the bedroom sink”, are you referring to inside the cabinet area under the sink or in the basement area?
I only have supply pipes in the cabinet under the sink in our unit. There is a large access panel on the back wall, curb side (under the W/D) closet in our basement. That’s where the supply pipes to the bedroom sink go. I haven’t looked there yet due to all the stuff I’d have to unload to get at it.

There is also a plastic access panel 6”x 6” on the back wall of the pantry cabinet opposite the shower, but I thought that was the access for the shower plumbing. I think that’s where Skip (Countryfolks) found theirs.
I’ll keep looking and let ya’all know when and where I find it.

TTYL,

Ken

kwbosch · 01-03-2006, 09:26 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by mobilrvn

As usual, we wonder why your the S/O wire guide broke, especially when you had a second one on its last leg? Is it an alignment problem, bad material or ?? Has anyone else had this experience?

Nice repair job. Think I would have drilled the hinge and not the frame to make it fit. No longer trust any additional holes that could cause a failure--any comments?

I don't think there's an alignment problem. The slides fit and work fine so far.
My 2¢, the plastic support is too short and when the slide is extended the plastic is bent too sharply causing the material to fatigue crack.

Ken

Montana_4765 · 01-03-2006, 10:19 AM

I had the same thing on all three of my slide outs. The factory rep admit they made those supports too short. My dealer relaced all three supports. Looks a lot longer and opens and closes without any stress....I'm happy

HamRad · 01-03-2006, 11:44 AM

kwbosch,
Great pictures and good "fix"! We don't have this type stuff on our older rig but good to know what all is out there. Thanks for posting.

HamRad

carlson · 01-06-2006, 05:58 AM

We also have a 05 3400 RL.
Our wire support also broke on the same slide last year.
I thought I was looking at pictures of mine.
On the anti-siphon valve.
If you open up the cabinets in the kitchen to the right of the ref. you will see a plastic cover on the wall.
Remove the screws and that where you will find the valve.
Hope it helps.

kwbosch · 01-06-2006, 03:37 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by carlson

We also have a 05 3400 RL.
Our wire support also broke on the same slide last year.
I thought I was looking at pictures of mine.
On the anti-siphon valve.
If you open up the cabinets in the kitchen to the right of the ref. you will see a plastic cover on the wall.
Remove the screws and that where you will find the valve.
Hope it helps.

E. Sven and Pat,

Thanks for the heads up on the anti-siphon location. I'll tear into it tomorrow.
Is it something repairable or should I just plan on replacing it?
Like most things I tinker with, if it aint broke, I just haven't messed with it long enough.

Thanks,

Ken

sreigle · 01-06-2006, 05:29 PM

Good solution on the wire support, Ken. Ours is pre-wire supports and the wires are supported by ties and springs. I'd like to move to the wire supports if I can find some somewhere. Or maybe fashion something similar.

Illini Trekker · 01-07-2006, 02:26 AM

Thanks for the words of wisdom Ken (Like most things I tinker with, if it aint broke, I just haven't messed with it long enough.)

Couldn't say how many times my wife and kids have quoted this to me in a liitle different way.LOL

carlson · 01-07-2006, 08:08 AM

Ken

""also noticed our black tank flush has quit working.
Most likely due to the anti-siphon device sticking,
So far, I can’t find the darned thing to fix it.""
When you say the black tank flush is not working, what do you mean???

cs413 · 01-07-2006, 10:29 AM

We had only opened our L/R slide 3 times and the harness broke. When I had the second a/c unit installed the dealer replaced it under warranty of course since it was new. The dealer stocked several of them and told me it's a pretty common repair. I thonk it's poor design and poor material. Plastic will only flex and bend at the weakest point so many times. I Will remember your fix for after warranty replacement.

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