Bedroom Slide Issues

[Mike3387]

This morning (I'm at home), I went to open the bedroom slide and about the end of the opening sequence, I hear a loud thunk. I start to check under and around the bed, as well as outside. I've installed the 80 amp breaker and that isn't tripped. The slide is open enough to see there's tension on the four cables and chain. So I try it again, thunk and no movement in or out. I try to bring the slide fully in and it stops and the motor sound as if there's no load on it. Last week I was working on the blank tank valve and lowered the front end, but set it back to level when finished. I'm stumped as to what the issue might be other than a maybe a broken cable. I'm hoping it's something I can fix myself, rather than have it sit at the dealership for weeks.

[jsb5717]

So the motor is still engaging the cables and putting tension on them or not? Just wondering if the gear in the motor broke loose from the drive shaft.

[Carl n Susan]

The 80 amp breaker controls the hydraulic system not the electric cable slides. This sounds like the gearbox that moves the cables n and out has died. Not an uncommon situation.

[Mike3387]

That seems like a very plausible explanation. I'll have to research the motor and how to replace the motor. Is it possible that the drive shaft broke if I can still hear the motor or is it one assembly?

[Mikendebbie]

I had to look up the floor plan...that is a large slideout!
Is it hydraulic or schwintek or cable slide?

Edit: ooops - I missed that you said it was a cable slide in your original post.

[Mike3387]

Other than taking the entire assembly apart. Is there a way to see if it's the shaft or gearbox assembly? I hear the motor working and I'm assuming the shaft is the weakest link. It's the BAL drive system and it seems easy enough to get to because the slide is halfway in. Hoping Amazon has it so I can repair it before the weekend.

[jsb5717]

You might contact BAL directly. I wouldn't be surprised if they agree to overnight you a replacement.

[Mike3387]

Took the fascia off and disconnected the motor in about five minutes and the shaft is toast. I will contact BAL and see if they can ship two so I'll have a spare. Crossing my fingers to keep our camping plans.

[Mike3387]

BAL has distributors that I have to deal with. Luckily, A local RV Sales and Service center have the parts in their warehouse, ordered three and they should be here tomorrow. Hopefully that was the cause of the problem and not the result of one. I'm using my deductive reasoning. The slide was slowly moving in and out, so the gearbox should be fine, when the shaft failed, the motor was still working. How to keep this from happening again? Not sure, after watching youtube videos, technicians were explaining that when the slide is fully in or out, release the switch. Mikeandebbie (thank you) supplied my RV layout and you see the bed comes up to the bedroom dresser. I see and hear the bed slightly compacting the dresser. Perhaps that is what's causing the issue because we want to make sure the slide is fully closed but we don't want to rip the dresser from it's mounts. If others are experiencing this issue, what do you do? The RV already had the king size bed installed. For those that were kind enough to answer my question(s), thank you. That is what makes the MOC so special.

[speedster100]

Hate to disappoint you but you likely have a bad gear box, the gears inside are made of cheap white metal (powder white metal). Common issue, you can now order an updated heavier duty motor/gearbox unit which I upgraded to when fixing our first failure. I did that and I also bought a second complete unit for a spare. Here in Canada it cost me just under $300. My sisters Montana had a bedroom slide fail right after the new spare unit arrived, we had it installed as they were back ordered with a 3 week delivery. About a month later a replacement arrived. I carry it everywhere just in case... Hopefully yours is just the sacrificial shaft that needs replacing however if it is the gear box please mark your chain and your adjustment bolts to ensure you align properly or it will be a brute to get aligned right, there is a video on this site to assist with replacing them. This is a systemic problem in the RV industry in the past 6 or so years with all brands using the BAL system. Why they don't source out a better supplier of the gear box is beyond belief as so many fail they can't keep them in stock...

[Mike3387]

Man, I was hoping that wouldn't be the case. I did price the gear assembly for about $100. I will watch the video on gear alignment. Thank you very much for you input. Like you, I like having my spares readily available so I'm not stuck somewhere.

[Alain L.]

Just started having the same thunk in my 2016 High Country 343rl kitchen slide. The extended warranty is covering the dealer's mobile tech to come fix it on my seasonal site. I'm glad I don't have to move anytime soon. I have contacted them on June 5th and am still waiting for the call for an appointment for the work.

[Tom&julie]

Sounds like the gear box to me. You can replace them your self in about an hour. I have replaced 2 of them on my 3791RD. They run about $150 or less, shop around, There are you tub videos and with basic tools you are in business. the most important thing is to mark the threaded rods on the end of the cables so you can return the tension back to org.