Forum Discussion

Goldencrazy's avatar
Goldencrazy
Explorer
Jan 30, 2015

Schwintech slide leak

I have one slide that moves a tiny bit and most of the time it makes no noise. It just started with a noise that makes me think the rubber seal on the front is rubbing and making the rubber to something sound. It is not the motor that sometime requires lube and can squeak. It really seems to be the seals. Winnebago Sightseer 35 G. Anyone else have this issue and did you lubricate it and successfully stop it? I also tried using a brace to stop the movement but the movement is so subtle the brace made no difference. Any ideas?

8 Replies

  • Look on the internet for the lube for the slide. About 3/4's of the way up you peal back the rubber seal and lube the motor and slide rail. That takes care of one squeak. This one seemed different. I lubed the seals last night. Was quiet all day for 400 miles of which about 50 were horrible roads. Now the slide went out and it once so perhaps just the connection with side wall. I will try Doug's suggestion if it happens again. I tend to agree with him. If it was the seals it should happen on anything that makes that contact. Now this slide definitely moves more than any others including the Schwintek in the bedroom.
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    Dr Jay wrote:
    I have the same problem. Ho:@w and what do you lube the track and motor with? Thanks for you help.:@


    Thetford, protectall and a few other brands make slide lube.
  • I have the same problem. Ho:@w and what do you lube the track and motor with? Thanks for you help.:@
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    Goldencrazy wrote:
    Thanks Effy. Tired fingers somehow posted leak. I will make sure the seals are lubed. The dealer lubed the mechanism and it was quiet for a long time. Then yesterday on some horrible roads I got this sound that seemed to be like balloons rubbing together. I had purchased some slide locks so installed one with not impact on the sound. My other slides are quiet and never had this issue with any other motorhome.


    Yep, that's the noise all right. I still can't trace it down. Sure sounds like the seals but when we look at it going down the road it doesn't seem to be coming from there. I would love to know a permanent solution myself. Lubing the seals and rails does seem to help. I don't think it's anything wrong per se, just annoying.
  • Thanks Effy. Tired fingers somehow posted leak. I will make sure the seals are lubed. The dealer lubed the mechanism and it was quiet for a long time. Then yesterday on some horrible roads I got this sound that seemed to be like balloons rubbing together. I had purchased some slide locks so installed one with not impact on the sound. My other slides are quiet and never had this issue with any other motorhome.
  • I KNOW people think that the rubber in slides and doors seem to squeak. In MY experience, rubber rarely makes that squeak. It is a metal to metal or nylon to metal that causes the squeak. The ONLY motorhome Scwintek squeak I ever had to deal with was Tiffin, on the Breeze model. It seems that Tifin used a thinner sidewall (less than the Scwintek required 1.5 inches) and the give on the side wall collar flexed and caused a squeak. The fix was to install angle steel shims to fill in the gap. I doubt Winne motorhomes have this type problem. So, extend the room just a smidgen and test drive and see if the noise goes away. Open the room and see if you can see any metal scrape damage on the various areas of the slide mechanism. Long shot would be the slide mechanism where it attaches to the sidewalls the squeak is the metal on the vinyl wall paper. You can get a squeak on windows from the inside retainer ring rubbing on the inside wall paper vinyl. THAT fix is to remove the retainer ring and use a thin rubber gasket to keep the metal from hitting the wall paper. I think you need to call Winne and see if they have seen this and what it might be if they have. Doug
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    Also your post says slide leak. I think you are describing a squeak - might affect your responses.
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    I think this is a common problem with shwintek slides. I know some manufacturers offer a fix, others tell you to lube the seals with lube or dust them with baby powder etc. I am not convinced there is a "fix" I think it's the nature of the slide. I would love to be wrong. I lube the sides and seals on ours on just about every trip. Works for a while until it rains or wears off. Smooth roads it's not an issue, only when it gets rough. My next MH will not have Shwintek slides. Seems like they either fail eventually or squeak or both.