Slideout problem #796372!!!

[sfretts]

Took out the Mountaineer for a place to stay while the grandkids played in a baseball tourney. Had to pull three mountain passes to get there. Lots of snow and slush and gunk on the roads. Got home and opened the slideouts to empty stuff out. Went to close and I hear the pump, but nothing moves. Tried a couple things and nothing.

Tonight I went out to attempt to close them manually and decided to try the switch one more time. Closed fine and opened right back out. Now wont close again.

I used slide out lube while camping and today used wd-40 tday thinking the road gunk gunked up the slides.

Question is with hearing the pump and all, would this still be the fuse in front (40 amp in line fuse link)? It seems weird that I hear the pump and yet no movement. Any thoughts on what might be happening? I have checked and have plenty of fluid and no bubbles when it runs.

[Tom S.]

If the pump is running, it's not the fuse/circuit breaker. Sorry I can't help beyond that as hydraulics isn't something I'm versed in.

[HOOK]

Make sure the black knobs in the small door on ODS are turned completely against stop. A partially open valve will allow fluid to bypass.

[DQDick]

That would be my guess also, the fact that it's intermittent would seem to indicate one of the selectors being almost but not completely in the right position.

[dieselguy]

When you say the motor runs ... does it sound as if it is under load or pretty much just spinning freely? The previous posts are valid thoughts if your unit has the individual shutoff valves. I've never used my isolator valves as I removed them and installed 12V solenoid valves with the individual slide switches inside my entry closet. However, I don't think you want them closed, but open to allow fluid flow ... someone needs to say yea or nay here. I'm maybe over thinking here, but the pumps are made by Parker with internal check valves to help hold the slides in place as well as an internal pressure relief valve. Perhaps the pressure relief isn't seating right each time, has a spring issue, or has a piece of debris in it. This would account for not having enough pressure to move the slides.

[racerjoe]

I think dieselguy is on the right track.there has to be a relief valve to switch from in and out. the valve is sticking and not shifting so rooms will reverse

[sfretts]

Hi,

I dont have the isolator knobs. When you open the siles, bedroom first, then living room. Same for closing.

The motor sounds the same but not under a load. Difficult to describe. This morning, I went out and hit the button and they closed with no problem. I had a idea thinking bout it. I will test the self reset fuse after opening and closing to see if this cold be the issue. Dont think it is, cause you would think I would hear no sound.

[dieselguy]

Just to clarify a previous thought, the relief valve I'm referring to has nothing to do with the slides direction. Unless the Mountaineer is vastly different from my Montana, there are no directional valves ... pump turns one way to move the slides out ... reverses direction to move the slides in. The relief valve is internal to the pump and controls max pressure which if at fault could also effect the pressure enough to stall the slide operation. If you have no shut off valves and the pump doesn't sound as if it is under a pretty good load, I'd lean more towards my line of thought. The pump can be disassembled and checked, but you kinda need to know what you are looking for. A swivel run tee with a gauge on it placed in any of the hydraulic lines would quickly tell the tale. You're looking for in excess of 1500 psi.
On edit ... I've also seen in rare cases where a piece of a hydraulic hose comes loose on the inside and depending on how it lodges itself, shuts off flow. I would think your pump would struggle against the blockage however.