cant identify my steps please help

I also found this

Wow that gear looks like it jumped and teeth crunched.... More than just worn.

Thanks Fireup. I always learn a lot on here. You mention poor quality gears and it reminds me of Toro lawn mowers back in the late 70's, they went from being one of the best self propelled lawn mowers to having sintered/pressed gears that didn't last long at all. Huge warranty costs. Same with Mc Culloch chain saws. They were one of the first to go with chrome plated cylinders and bore the weight of an early design flaw.

Sorry to get off track for a minute Peterman1

Where would be a good place to buy a new gear box?

rjxj wrote:
Looking at the wear pattern makes me wonder what is causing it. It's not worn on all the teeth so what is happening within the step mechanism that is creating that much load only in that area? Is it binding or is that the area that is at the end of the steps travel before it shuts off? Is there a limit switch that is out of adjustment? Is there a linkage and pivot points that need to be lubed more often? I have never had a class A so just wondering.

rjxj,
If you're talking about the wear pattern in the pictures I provided, there's a simple explanation for that pattern. In the travel of the steps, both extend and retract, the design of the system is such that, only one half of that large gear, is ever used. The other half, is basically un-touched for it's entire life.

The drive gear, the little one, makes a couple of rotations but, the large one, only rotates 1/2 way around. I tried to remove and re-install that large gear to utilize the un-used teeth. It worked for about 7-8 cycles of the steps then, malfunctioned again. So, I tossed the entire gear box for a new one.

Now, you ask about "limit switches". Well, no, there are none on those Kwikee step systems. The motor, is a resistance controlled motor. That is, when it feels the resistance of a point of stopping against the end of travel for the steps, either in extending or, retracting, it automatically ceases to operate. It's just like many door awning motors. They operate the same way, as well as my step cover, just below the passengers feet in our diesel. It stops at the end of it's travel, much the same way.

You mention "lubing" of parts. Yep, without a doubt, it's one of the worst, neglected maintenanced items on many coaches. People simply forget to get down, lay on the ground and, take the time to lube, all the pivot points, (and by the way, on a two-step system like mine, there's about 12-14 pivot points to lube) and shafts etc.

So, what peeves me off is, Kwikee, knowing its makeup of the gears etc., inside that gear box, WILL NOT SELL, JUST GEARS!!!! And I'm about, 99.9999999999999999999999% sure that, I'm not the only one in the RV world that's had gear go bad due to inferior design. It's as normal, a cost thing. To actually machine a quality steel gear, as opposed to a cast pot metal one, would probably double the cost of that gear box.

Scott

There has been a lot of discussion over the years about using power window motors to replace failed motors on power steps. I went back for a link on this forum that was particularly well done, it began in 2007. Sorry to say, I find the photos have been pulled by the OP. Here is a recent discussion about the change-out of a Kwikee Step If you do a Google search of the net, using the terms: "Dorman window regulator to replace Kwikee Step motor" you will find this and other RV forums with discussions on the problem. If the motor is purchased from AutoZone as their "house brand", I believe it will have a "Lifetime Warranty" if you save the receipt.

Looking at the wear pattern makes me wonder what is causing it. It's not worn on all the teeth so what is happening within the step mechanism that is creating that much load only in that area? Is it binding or is that the area that is at the end of the steps travel before it shuts off? Is there a limit switch that is out of adjustment? Is there a linkage and pivot points that need to be lubed more often? I have never had a class A so just wondering.

peterman1 wrote:
hi everyone
I have a fourwinds hurricane 2008 3 slides its also a 34b model. well my steps have had it. I pulled the motor and gear box off and found two broken teeth on the big gear in the gear box also tested the connection that plugs into the motor and I get 13 volts for about 5 to 10 seconds when opening and closing the door. I then plugged in the motor just to test but it did not work. I then banged on the motor on the concrete a few times then it started to work for about 3 cycles then it went dead again. im going to replace the gear box and motor but I cant find any stickers or numbers anywhere. does anyone know of a way I can identify what model steps I have..

peterman1,
I appreciate your telling us the make/model/year of coach because, so often, none of that info is presented. As for your step, I just went through much of the same thing with mine. Now, mine is a Kwikee two step version and, it also broke a couple of teeth in the big gear. Those gears are cheap, "cast pot metal" gears. They are not machined steel.

Now, what would really be nice is, if you could get some pics of your gear box, motor, plug, etc. and post them to see if all that stuff is either close or, the exact same stuff as I just replaced. I emailed Kwikee and told them I needed JUST A GEAR, ONE GEAR, THAT'S ALL. They came back with, no, you need a complete "retro" kit for $347.00, WHAAAAAAAAAAAT??????? Are they nuts or what?

So, I took my parts and goofed around on ebay and Amazon and guess what, I found a complete new gear box that is the same exact one as I have and, also a brand new motor. Both the gear box and the new motor was less than 1/2 of the price of that "retro" kit. So, if you could post a pic, we could compare.
Scott

On edit:
This is what mine looked like when I removed them from the gear box.
The big gear is the "driven" gear. The little one is the "drive" gear. The little one is fine, albeit it has a tooth stuck in between two of it's teeth, that broke off the big gear. You can see them in the pics.
Scott