New EC1165 Slide Misalignment?

bighatnohorse wrote:

F450EC1165 wrote:

When the slide is fully in with the top seal compressed but there is still a 1/2" to 3/4" gap at the bottom of the slide (seal barely touching). To me that means the gear tracks are not engaged with the gears correctly or the slide was not level when they screwed the tracks onto the sides of the slideout?

That is exactly what it means. My Lance has the lower front gear track off by one or two gear teeth. You can't see the pinion gear teeth, but the result is one slide corner will not fully retract.

You can verify it from inside the camper with the slide extended. Run your fingers along the interior seal from top to bottom. You will feel a gap between the rubber interior seal and the frame at one corner. The gap diminishes as you run your fingers toward the opposite corner where it will be pulled tight.

I verified three times; I called Lippert Components - spoke with their tech person - their final verdict is as explained above.
I also took the camper to Lance Repair in Lancaster, CA and they want to replace the entire slide mechanism. (My opinion of Lance repair center is below drainage level.)

I paid an independent repair tech (Vern, who is an Escapees member) inspect the system. Yes - pinion gear and gear rack are mis-aligned.

Lippert has a repair process published as a pdf document that shows the slide has to be lifted and the tracks replaced or repositioned. I got that from their tech person.

The Lippert Schwintek is a good system, but it requires a higher degree of precision build than these RV manufacturers are used to. Thus, many problems.

Wow. The way your experience and description paints this issue so vividly reinforces why I just walked away from anything other than a Power Gear slide system when a slideout model was suggested by a dealer I shopped. This is the same Eagle Cap that was debated a couple weeks ago concerning not publishing their dealer network in order to protect territories. Talk about not having your priorities straight in terms of ensuring your survival by building a quality product. For my money it would be run, not walk, away from this level of engineering and manufacturing care/(in)competence when considering spending $60K.