cant identify my steps please help

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