Bigger motors on slideouts for voltages?

[aarondeere]

I was at the dealer the other day and a salesman mentioned that the new voltages coming out have larger more powerful motors on the slideouts than the ones on my 2012 model. He said they move in smoother and look to run the slides more powerfully. Of course the one on their lot didn't have the battery hooked up so I couldn't see for myself. Now I've had one motor fail on my bedroom slideout and that is the small one of the 2 slides I have so I'm always interested in if there are improvements. Also if another one would fail and if this is true, would I be able to get the larger motors.

[mpierce]

I had trouble with mine, and service just oiled the gears. Peal back the rubber seal, and spray silicone base lube on the gears inside, not on the tracks. Mine work good now. They said need to do once or twice a year, depending on use and climate.

[joebedford]

Treadwheeler wrote:
I actually question lubing the gear / track itself – it may be designed to operate with no lubrication with consideration for torque – if the cogs interact with the track with lube versus dry there is actually a different amount of torque being applied as the cogs apply pressure in the track

All I know is that it was terrible before I white greased them and just fine afterwards.

[Treadwheeler]

Motor change from 3k to 5k is what I was told by Dutchman - so the 30 to 1 versus 50 to 1 change is correct.
I was also told by Dutchman they recommend old English furniture polish (oil based) for slide lubrication on all components. Haven’t tried it yet, so can’t comment about it. I like the sound of silicone on the rollers though better.

I actually question lubing the gear / track itself – it may be designed to operate with no lubrication with consideration for torque – if the cogs interact with the track with lube versus dry there is actually a different amount of torque being applied as the cogs apply pressure in the track.
This is in comparison to lug nuts and wheel studs – while many will argue to the contrary, wheel studs should not be lubricated with anything. You can not achieve proper torque value with lubricated lugs/studs – they are designed and intended to operate dry to achieve and then maintain proper torque.

[CoolbaldguyRZR]

DodgeVoltage wrote:

joebedford wrote:

DodgeVoltage wrote:

joebedford wrote:

Sinecure wrote:

joebedford wrote:
Dunno. The originals in my 2011 work perfectly once I learned to lubricate properly.

joebedford - could you tell us about your lubrication procedure? I'd like to lube mine as a preventative measure.

Silicone spray on the rollers and white grease spray on the tracks. Made a night and day difference.

Doesn't the white grease spray on the tracks make a mess with dust on the sides of the slides and on the rubber seals? I guess it would take the metal grinding sounds away. I take it you mean the grooved rails on the sides of the slides that the gears mesh into?

No, no mess & grinding noise gone. I sprayed the grease liberally in the gear tracks and groove. Then I cleaned the overspray off the side of the slide. The grease doesn't touch the seals and it doesn't really attract dust (and it was really dusty in RGV last winter).

I bought some and will give it a try. Thanks.

Good info thanks

[DodgeVoltage]

joebedford wrote:

DodgeVoltage wrote:

joebedford wrote:

Sinecure wrote:

joebedford wrote:
Dunno. The originals in my 2011 work perfectly once I learned to lubricate properly.

joebedford - could you tell us about your lubrication procedure? I'd like to lube mine as a preventative measure.

Silicone spray on the rollers and white grease spray on the tracks. Made a night and day difference.

Doesn't the white grease spray on the tracks make a mess with dust on the sides of the slides and on the rubber seals? I guess it would take the metal grinding sounds away. I take it you mean the grooved rails on the sides of the slides that the gears mesh into?

No, no mess & grinding noise gone. I sprayed the grease liberally in the gear tracks and groove. Then I cleaned the overspray off the side of the slide. The grease doesn't touch the seals and it doesn't really attract dust (and it was really dusty in RGV last winter).

I bought some and will give it a try. Thanks.

[joebedford]

DodgeVoltage wrote:

joebedford wrote:

Sinecure wrote:

joebedford wrote:
Dunno. The originals in my 2011 work perfectly once I learned to lubricate properly.

joebedford - could you tell us about your lubrication procedure? I'd like to lube mine as a preventative measure.

Silicone spray on the rollers and white grease spray on the tracks. Made a night and day difference.

Doesn't the white grease spray on the tracks make a mess with dust on the sides of the slides and on the rubber seals? I guess it would take the metal grinding sounds away. I take it you mean the grooved rails on the sides of the slides that the gears mesh into?

No, no mess & grinding noise gone. I sprayed the grease liberally in the gear tracks and groove. Then I cleaned the overspray off the side of the slide. The grease doesn't touch the seals and it doesn't really attract dust (and it was really dusty in RGV last winter).

[aarondeere]

lightfoot wrote:
Just so that all us Voltage owners don't start running to the dealer to get new motors, here is the scoop. I had a problem with one of my original motors. It some how froze up over the winter, probably had some moisture get in somewhere, so the dealer had to replace the motor when they finally got the slide out so they could access the release screw. They had to replace both motors as whoever made the motors, changed not the size of it or the voltage or amps, but the geering. My originals and probably yours also, were 30 to 1 ratio. The new and current ones are 50 to 1, so the slide goes in and out a lot slower and it doesn't tax the motor as much. So I have one slide with the new motors and one with the old. So far so good with both of them.

Thanks so much for the explanation. To me that would be just fine if they would gear it down more so those motors aren't working so hard. When I had my bedroom slide ones replaced, they were still using the old gearing so for now as long as they work I'm happy.

[lightfoot]

Just so that all us Voltage owners don't start running to the dealer to get new motors, here is the scoop. I had a problem with one of my original motors. It some how froze up over the winter, probably had some moisture get in somewhere, so the dealer had to replace the motor when they finally got the slide out so they could access the release screw. They had to replace both motors as whoever made the motors, changed not the size of it or the voltage or amps, but the geering. My originals and probably yours also, were 30 to 1 ratio. The new and current ones are 50 to 1, so the slide goes in and out a lot slower and it doesn't tax the motor as much. So I have one slide with the new motors and one with the old. So far so good with both of them.

[DodgeVoltage]

joebedford wrote:

Sinecure wrote:

joebedford wrote:
Dunno. The originals in my 2011 work perfectly once I learned to lubricate properly.

joebedford - could you tell us about your lubrication procedure? I'd like to lube mine as a preventative measure.

Silicone spray on the rollers and white grease spray on the tracks. Made a night and day difference.

Doesn't the white grease spray on the tracks make a mess with dust on the sides of the slides and on the rubber seals? I guess it would take the metal grinding sounds away. I take it you mean the grooved rails on the sides of the slides that the gears mesh into?

[joebedford]

Sinecure wrote:

joebedford wrote:
Dunno. The originals in my 2011 work perfectly once I learned to lubricate properly.

joebedford - could you tell us about your lubrication procedure? I'd like to lube mine as a preventative measure.

Silicone spray on the rollers and white grease spray on the tracks. Made a night and day difference.

[aarondeere]

X3

[FranknDiane]

X2

[Sinecure]

joebedford wrote:
Dunno. The originals in my 2011 work perfectly once I learned to lubricate properly.

joebedford - could you tell us about your lubrication procedure? I'd like to lube mine as a preventative measure.

[DodgeVoltage]

I'd be first in line if mine could be retrofitted with more powerful motors. I get tired of moving them in and out a few times to get them fully in or out. They sound like they really struggle to move. They work better with the camper's 6 point levelers down, but who wants to put them down each time to open the slide far enough to get something out of the fridge while traveling. I hold my breath each time I put the slides out for fear that I won't get them back in causing me to be stuck somewhere. I don't know why Dutchmen didn't just use hydraulic levelers and slides?? They are so much better.