Hydraulic slide out issues while traveling
After buying a used 5th wheel, prepping it, and setting out on our cross country journey, we thought we had all of our ducks in a row, but our hydraulic slide out mechanism stopped functioning at our ...
Forum Discussion
Here is the link to the Lippert manual: http://www.lci1.com/assets/content/support/manuals/Slideouts/Hydro_Sync_Slide_out_System_Service_Manual.pdf
I doubt that it is a leak since the hydraulic fluid would quickly make it's presence known if it was leaking.
As others have indicated the hydraulic system is really a two part system; the hydraulics and the electrical system that powers it. Since the problem seems to be sporadic in that the shop had the slides working and then they did not, I would check the voltage at the pump motor first.
Have you or the shop tried the manual over ride? There should be a method to hand pump the slides in. Some systems have a valve to operate to do this and I would check that valve to make sure it is in the proper position.
Even if the battery is fully charged there could still be a point of electrical resistance in the pump circuit that is causing a low voltage at the pump. A test meter applied while the pump is under load should be able to check that. Another indicator would be a high amperage draw, but that should kick the circuit breaker providing some enterprising individual din't "fix" the problem by jumping around the circuit breaker.
I would also have them ensure that the lines are hooked up according to the manufacturer's specs. If someone was into this before it is pretty easy to hook a line up incorrectly.
When I trouble shoot an item, particularly something that I suspect has been worked on before, my first step is to ensure everything is hooked up the way it should be. A good tech will not assume anything before he/she ensures themselves of this first.
I know this is of little consolation, but my bet is it will turn out to be something pretty simple. It is human nature to look for the absolute worst thing it can be; say the pump?, when it is usually something like a broken wire or an incorrectly turned valve.
I doubt that it is a leak since the hydraulic fluid would quickly make it's presence known if it was leaking.
As others have indicated the hydraulic system is really a two part system; the hydraulics and the electrical system that powers it. Since the problem seems to be sporadic in that the shop had the slides working and then they did not, I would check the voltage at the pump motor first.
Have you or the shop tried the manual over ride? There should be a method to hand pump the slides in. Some systems have a valve to operate to do this and I would check that valve to make sure it is in the proper position.
Even if the battery is fully charged there could still be a point of electrical resistance in the pump circuit that is causing a low voltage at the pump. A test meter applied while the pump is under load should be able to check that. Another indicator would be a high amperage draw, but that should kick the circuit breaker providing some enterprising individual din't "fix" the problem by jumping around the circuit breaker.
I would also have them ensure that the lines are hooked up according to the manufacturer's specs. If someone was into this before it is pretty easy to hook a line up incorrectly.
When I trouble shoot an item, particularly something that I suspect has been worked on before, my first step is to ensure everything is hooked up the way it should be. A good tech will not assume anything before he/she ensures themselves of this first.
I know this is of little consolation, but my bet is it will turn out to be something pretty simple. It is human nature to look for the absolute worst thing it can be; say the pump?, when it is usually something like a broken wire or an incorrectly turned valve.
