help with slides PLEASE - Montana Owners Club

c214dick · 02-02-2011, 05:05 AM

We are stuck at our site with 2 slides in and 2 slides out.

We checked an in line fuse that we found and it was OK. The in line breaker for our level up system had blown so we reset it and the lift system works OK.

We had a lot of help from other Montana owners but no one could fiure out what is wrong. I contacted a repair service who did all sorts of checks and traces w/o any luck. He thinks that there may be a break from the switch to the motor for the slides.

How do we manually retract the slides so we can at least get it in for the axle replacement. Is there any place else to check? We are currently sitting with friends using their laptop, ut that will get old soon.

As I will only have limited access to their laptop, please feel free to call with any help. 847 217 2241

Thanks

pineranch · 02-02-2011, 05:30 AM

Look at 071 or 072
http://www.lci1.com/index.php?option...&catid=40:lip-
sheets&Itemid=68

Mike

Art-n-Marge · 02-02-2011, 06:06 AM

Mine operates differently. I definitely wish I had the system that pineranch's link shows. (On edit) Apparently with the Level Up system, the existing slide out pump and motor are replaced with this in order to add the automatic leveling and hence are combined.

Mine has a spindle that sticks out (not a hex fitting for a drill) and then there's a perpendicular pin that extends beyond the spindle. My rig came with a wrench that fits over that spindle, then one must rotate by hand (for a long long time apparently) in order to manually retract the slides and this assumes that this will retract the slides. This may not work if there is a substantial failure of the pump or slide out mechanisms. Some have created a drill bit wrench that fits over the spindle to prevent having to manually crank by hand.

I hope you get this working otherwise I have seen fivers with failed and extended slideouts (obviously a problem rig) being towed to a service location with hazards engaged and trying to stay clear of obstacles. Once the rig was being escorted and a second time the rig was by itself. In both cases they were driving slow on less traveled roads (and I'm assuming) on their way to a fix-it place. But you mention you have an axle issue too. Be careful, I hope you are able to get those slides retracted.

c214dick · 02-02-2011, 06:24 AM

Thanks Art & Mike. I printed off 3 items from Lippert and am waitig to hear back from the RV service tech. Art, I don't think I have the system like yours but we did in our Cedar Creek. I will crawl under the kitchen slide to see if I can manually access the mechanism. The bedroom is 1/2 in but the bottom is enclosed so I may have to remove the covering.

helmick · 02-02-2011, 06:44 AM

Dick
Did you call Ron at the service center, he might have a quick answer.

capn chris · 02-02-2011, 06:46 AM

Dick,
Any luck, yet? Do I understand that your hydraulic pump does not run at all, or does it? Have you tried call Lippert Customer Service? Their number is probably one of those listed on the MOC Homepage. Hope you get some real help soon.

SlickWillie · 02-02-2011, 09:41 AM

Art, I think you're confusing the slide hydraulics with the electric landing gear manual crank mechanism. Our slide motor has a place for emergency operation by a hand drill on the end of the motor. One direction for in, the other for out. That being said, surely if there is just a problem with wiring or a switch, an RV tech can jumper the solenoids on the pump motor to bring the slides in.

c214dick · 02-02-2011, 11:06 AM

Both Keystone and Lippert are closed due to heavy snow. I can't imagine as it was 84 in central Florida, but cloudy. Here's the latest....

The RV repair tech came back with one of the owners and they agreed that there is a problem with the wire coming from the slide switch to the pump. As the wire is in the wall and through sections of the floor it will be a difficult process to trace the problem. A friend of ours had a similar problem with their Keystone product and the dealer found an in line fuse in the wall. I hope for Keystones sake this is not the case with us. They may just fish another wire through to replace the damaged one. They were able to bypass and extend all of the slides. We decided it would be best to have them out as we want them repaired before having the axle replaced.

We made an appointment with them for next Tuesday to bring it in to their shop. They will come out that morning and retract the slides so we can transport Monty to their facility. I will make sure to pay close attention how they do this because it was a lot easier than using the drill on the pump. If necessary we can stay at their shop overnight and they will supply electric. We have an appointment for next Thursday to FINALLY get the axle and tires replaced.

Thanks to all for you assistance especially Art and Chris for your calls. This Club is the best. If you are in the Silver Springs, Fl area the company is B & E RV Service & Repair 352 401 7930. Bobby (B) answers the phone and makes the appointments. Ed (E) came out the second time with Scott. They did not charge me for any of the time but I'm sure they will make up for it on Tuesday. They were recommended by my Progressive adjuster.

mhs4771 · 02-02-2011, 01:15 PM

Dick, If TrailAir did your install the same as mine, they had to install a new switch for the slides and run an additional wire from the pump to the slide switch. I think it had to do with isolating the slide operation of the pump from the Level-up operation. If you get in touch with Ron, you might want to ask exactly what was changed.

c214dick · 02-02-2011, 03:08 PM

TrailAir did our install and I did talk to Ron and the RV tech talked to him also. When this all happened not only did our slides stop working but so did the LevelUp system. Ron helped me find the in line breaker so I could reset the system. I also checked the in line fuse after the breaker which was OK. Ron was only able to suggest checking the fuses above the circuit breaker board. As I mentioned earlier, the Tech was able to do something that allowed him to activate the slides or the pairs of jacks for the leveling system. As soon as I find out how he did it I will post it.

capn chris · 02-03-2011, 04:05 AM

Glad your tech found a "work around" and got your slides squared away for now. Good luck, Dick.

jsmitfl · 02-03-2011, 05:25 AM

Dick, Was your axle being bent what caused that one tire to wear like it did?

c214dick · 02-03-2011, 11:25 AM

Yes

c214dick · 02-03-2011, 11:42 AM

With regards to the slide switch, do you mean the one inside the coach? If so it was not changed. Ours is a multi switch plate housing the slide switch, three light switches, ceiling fan and a partridge in a pear tree. At one time we had an issue with the slide switch sticking and neither Lippert or Keystone would own up to being responsible for that type of switch combination being installed. Keystone was going to give us a replacement switch until I described what we had and than they threw it back to Lippert. Like a true hot potato Lippert threw it back to Keystone. Fortunately it stopped sticking. The RV tech tested the switch and it is good showing power coming to and from the switch but not reaching the pump.

I did get through to Keystone service and was told that there is an in line fuse, for the slides, about 18" from the positve battery cable. We do have a 30amp in line fuse just past the breaker for the Level Up system. The breaker trips first before the fuse would be affected. Perhaps someone with the Level Up system could check their unit to see if there is a similar scenario. I would also be interested in knowing if anyone who does not have the Level Up system can find the in line fuse for the slides. I'm pretty sure there is an in line fuse for the front jacks but I'm not sure if it controls the slides as well.

I will call Ron again tomorrow as well as Jarrod Lippert to see if I can get any info.

Thanks again for all concerns and suggestions.

SlickWillie · 02-03-2011, 01:38 PM

I would suspect the inline fuse protects the wiring running through the trailer. If the breaker is the auto setting 50 amp, if something shorted out, it would burn the small wire up going to the switch, and possibly burn the rig. The breaker is there for pump protection. JMHO

Art-n-Marge · 02-03-2011, 03:02 PM

Thanks Slick but Dick had it right. He has a Lippert Level up system and hydraulics that are very different than my Lippert discrete slide system. My description was for my system and he has something different where the slide and leveling hydraulics are all in one, more like the one pineranch described.

c214dick · 02-04-2011, 09:24 AM

Here's the latest from Lippert.

Good afternoon Mr Whitehead

This is not a factory install but I may be able to assist with a few questions. By code, the circuit breaker is within 18" of the battery. from there wiring goes straight to the pump. Now, if power is not getting from the battery to the pump, your issue is wiring between the battery to the pump.
The solenoid has three posts on the top - the center one is constant hot. The switch should be getting it's power directly from this center post as well. - if you have a test light or voltage meter, you can check for power at this location. If it is hot, then the issue may simply be the reversing solenoid is not latching in. does it click when you hit the switch??

Hopefully this gives you some ideas - by rights, you most likely had your install done here in Goshen. Your contact for warranty consideration would be the trail air group that did your install. They can be reached at 800-998-4238

best regards

I'll let you know if I figure it out.

c214dick · 02-04-2011, 10:45 AM

IT'S FIXED, I HOPE.
Here's what I sent to Lippert..........

Hi Lippert Warranty

Thanks for your quick response. It appears that I have three ciruit breakers wired in series. As suggested by the service mgr at Collier's Sky Harbor, where I purchased my coach, I tested each one of the posts of the three breakers and had power to all six posts. I checked the center post of the solenoid and it was also hot.

I asked my wife to activate the slide switch so I could listen for a click as you sugggested and the bedroom slide worked. What I did find was the middle breaker had come apart from it's backing and I pushed it back together. As I had a spare 50 amp breaker I replaced the "broken" one with the new one. Again we tried the slide switch and it worked.

I hope this is a "final" fix as I don't want to go through this again for a long time.

We tried it twice but only with the bedroom slide and it worked. We will try it one more time before going for the axle replacement. If it works we can transport if not we call the RV service back. FYI, they were so good to us and spent about 2 hours and two trips that I offerred to pay them for their time. I don't know if what we did was the actual solution or if there is another issue. We will at least buy two more breakers to have in reserve for any future problems.

Once again I can't thank the Club members enough for all of your suggestions.

SlickWillie · 02-04-2011, 11:48 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Art-n-Marge

Thanks Slick but Dick had it right. He has a Lippert Level up system and hydraulics that are very different than my Lippert discrete slide system. My description was for my system and he has something different where the slide and leveling hydraulics are all in one, more like the one pineranch described.

What I was referring to was the hand crank you mentioned....it is for the landing gear. The only backup I have ever seen for the hydraulic system is the use of a drill in the end of the motor. You're sure gonna get some serious blisters cranking the pump fast enough by hand to move the slides in. I have seen other units with an emergency pump like a bottle jack; just not on a Keystone product.

capn chris · 02-05-2011, 06:38 AM

Great news, Dick! Hope you're good to go.

You may also like: