power step motor runs, but gears not engaged

On some power steps, the motor is actually an automotive power window motor. Sometimes the "pot metal" zinc gears will just strip and prevent the motor from moving the mechanism.

You need to pull the unit and see if the gears on the motor are stripped, if they are you can buy a new motor at the parts store (they are usually power window motors). If the gears in the gear box are stripped you will need new gears for that or a new gear box. Make sure you pull the plug for the step motor before working on it if it started working while your arm is in-between something it can do damage.

I had to replace my motor this summer, no big deal. it comes apart fairly easy

hikerman wrote:
I can hear the electric motor running for the power step, but they will not stay all the way up nor will they extend and stay all the way down. They had worked just fine for 900 miles last week, but after 48hrs in storage they started this 'missfire'.
Any experience with something like this?

Well Sir,
It all depends on just which Kwikee system you have. Apparently there are different gear setups in their lineup. About a year ago or more, ours displayed some of the same symptoms only, it would go out and "ratchet" at the end of the stroke. So, I tore into the gear box and found the driven gear, the 3" one, to have two broken teeth but, the drive gear, the little one on the motor was just fine.


Well, Kwikee being Kwikee, doesn't just sell gears, they wanted me to "upgrade" to a whole new mechanism for oh, about $300 or so. Well, that ain't happening. So, I cruised around on Amazon and low and behold, I found the exact gear box that was/is the same as ours. I got that thing for a whopping $60.00, yahooooo.

Anyway, if I can display the pics correctly, I'll show you what ours looked like. Yours may, or may not, be the same system and, have the same problems. You'll have to decide.
Scott

Thank you all for the help. Hopefully I'll nail this 'motor & gear' thing tomorrow..Thanks much..

I was able to get a replacement motor off of Amazon for around $40. The trick is to know what series Kwikee steps you have (mine were 32) and I was able to cross over the Kwikee motor to a Ford window motor. HTH

I just replaced my motor with one from Amazon. I did have to change the wire plug by swapping it with the old motors plug. My old motor had plastic circular pieces inside by the gears and two of them were disinegrated.

The newer Kwikee steps no longer use a power window motor but a specially designed one. Time will tell if they are better. They are more expensive and I have had one fail.

Thanks again for the suggestions. After removing the motor and opening it - the plastic/nylon gears were shredded! Buying on on Ebay 'buy it now', new for $75. Local parts and rv supply places had it at $206 and more. I'll wait a couple days on FedEx...

I got mine at Auto Zone for about $45 and they had it in stock---lifetime guarantee!