Slide cylinders

[jliveit]

Has anyone had or checked the hydrolic cylinders on your slides for rust?? Can not believe this would be good for the seals. I was just cleaning up and checking things on our 2011 Mountaineer when I saw rust and pitting on 2 of my 4 slide cylinders.

[7.3Ford]

I have a 2010 Montana 3665RE, no rust what so ever. I would get into the dealer while your warranty is still active.

Are you storing with Slides in?

When on extended stay, manual says to run the slides in and out once or twice a week. It also says to store with slides in.

[Ozz]

quote:Originally posted by jliveit

Has anyone had or checked the hydraulic cylinders on your slides for rust?? Can not believe this would be good for the seals. I was just cleaning up and checking things on our 2011 Mountaineer when I saw rust and pitting on 2 of my 4 slide cylinders.

After 4 Winters on South padre, mine are pitted and one of them is leaking. I guess the pits scratched the seal and now it leaks.
Nice by the ocean, but it really ruins the equipment.
I imagine you have some surface rust, probably won't hurt anything, but I would take a 3-m green scratch-pad and some WD-40 and clean them real good.

[SlickWillie]

Yep, those cylinders rust very easily. Very little chrome on them. I've seen good cylinders last many years in a very hostile environment without rust. Heck, I looked at the new Montana's here, and the cylinder were already rusted.

We had our LR/DR slide cylinder replaced under warranty. I actually did the install myself due to the poor quality of work I saw at the stealership. Corrosion X HD or grease works well to prevent the rust.

[Lambchop]

Sure, it's nice to stay near or on the Gulf. We do and have had some issues also. Stairs rust up...The hitch on the truck rusts & get's sticky....the exposed iron gas pipes underneath rusts bad...springs & suspension rusts...the list goes on.
Not much we can do except move inland LOL!

Roy

[nosticks]

I will have to check my cylinders as I live on the coast and camp near the Gulf mostly. I didn't realise they were so susceptible to rusting. On the subject of rust, last week I roughed up and painted my pin box, steps top bottom sides underneath, and inside the rear bumper where the sewer hose is stored with Rustoleum Black Satin. It's a really good match. I also touched up any frame rust I found. I know the Big Montys don't have bumpers, but when I pulled out my hose two weeks ago, it was totally covered in rust and the orange dust came out like flour from a sack. So I used a 1x2x8 and stapled a wash rag on it and swabbed the inside. Hopefully I caught it all.

[pineranch]

Living at the coast and owning a boat and trailer taught me many expensive lessons. Trailer springs and axles don't last long no matter how well you think you rinsed them. Non-stailless grills last 3 years at the most.
;Mike

[SlickWillie]

This is the best treatment I have found for rust. You can paint over it. Unlike Ospho, it puts a coating over the rust.

[8.1al]

I've been using something like that for years. Use it on a rusty spot and it'll never rust again. I'm not sure how it would work on a cylinder rod though

[illapah]

I think I read somewhere to just lube the ram with hydraulic fluid periodically.

[scductman]

I just spray mine down with white lube if they are going to be out for awhile. I need to ck on them dw has the slides out getting ready for april already.
bobby

[SlickWillie]

quote:Originally posted by 8.1al

I've been using something like that for years. Use it on a rusty spot and it'll never rust again. I'm not sure how it would work on a cylinder rod though

I didn't make that clear...for rusty metal, other than the cylinder rods. I think the white grease mentioned will work good. The oil may work under normal conditions; but on the coast ain't normal conditions.

[8.1al]

SlickWillie,
I didn't think you were talking about cylinder rods, I just wanted to make sure people didn't think I was recommending it.

[Lee F.]

I started using Boeshield T-9 as a lubricant/protectant on just about everything. In my opinion it outperforms anything else out there. It's not petrolium based but wax based. Amazing stuff.

http://boeshield.com/

[headinsouth]

On aircraft we have hydraulic cylinders exposed to the elements all the time.. we usually take hydraulic fluid and wipe it down once a week and it keeps them from rusting. If you use oil or grease, That can latch on to grit and grime and hold it on the cylinder unless you wipe it down before closing slide... I think wiping down with WD-40 is ok but I wouldn't use any grease. Oh WD-40 displaces water too. Just my opinion. happy camping!

[pineranch]

A retired Navy and Air Force Chief agree that wiping down the cylinders with hydraulic fluid is just good maintenance practice and will prevent shaft corrosion. I believe grease and other coatings will attract grit and grime that will contaminate and cause damage to the wiper and seals.
Mike

[SlickWillie]

With all due respect to you guys, I think the cylinder rods you worked with were of high quality. These on the RV slides have very little chrome on them from what I have seen. IMHO, they are just looking for a chance to rust. I replaced the cylinder in early summer 2007; been greasing it ever since with no problems. The outer seal has a wiper seal that cleans the rod when retracted.

[pineranch]

Best damn quality the tax payers could afford. You saying Keystone may not be installing the highest quality cylinders on there slides or is that just your Texas pessimism seeping out.
Mike

[headinsouth]

good quality or bad.. wiping them down with a light fluid (Hydraulic) will still keep them from corroding and won't pick up crud as bad either.. But I do understand what you are saying about quality of chrome on these things.. Just trying to help...

Thanks Chief.. good to be in good company!