Slide hesitates, sometimes stops

[Dry_Desert_Heat]

We tow a 2003 Alpenlite Augusta with a flat floor living room slide. This slide extends fine, but has problems retracting in the first 6 inches or so as the slide has to raise. After that, it moves in just fine. We travel 3 months in the summer from Phoenix and make a lot of overnight stops during each trip, so the slide has gotten a lot of use. Had the slide checked by a local shop and lubricated, installed 4 new batteries (first diagnosis was weak batteries) but the slide is still slow on starting when it is warm outside, sometimes stopping entirely when it's cold. Can extend the slide immediately after it stops and try again to close it, so apparently there are no electrical circuit breaker problems. The shop suggested a new slide motor, but admitted that they had seen cases where this change did not help. There are no mud or other buildups on the wiper seals. Could the problem be stiffened wiper seals (due to age and heat) that require much more force by the motor to retract the slide? I haven't tried waxing the slide to make it more slippery for the seals to move over the surface. Your thoughts?

[CREATO]

Vulcaneer wrote:

Michelle.S wrote:
Don't know about your unit, but guessing you're referencing hydraulic slides. Many RVs use an auto-reset circuit breaker in the slide pump power line. These do go bad resulting in a stopping and restarting of operation and will only get worse. I would check to see if you have an auto-reset breaker and replace it.
Have had a similar issue on previous Montana and current Redwood.

This is the correct response. Follow your positive wire from the battery. It will connect to a breaker (actually two in series) that is connected under a rubber cover. Usually a red cover, and attached to the back wall of the front storage compartment. These suckers go bad frequently. Remove both of them and take them to an auto parts store for replacement. About $6.00 a piece.

This is your problem.

I don't believe WRV ever used Hyd. Slides on any of the 5vers

[Dry_Desert_Heat]

Thanks for your posts. The rig is in storage currently, preventing me from extending the slide. I'll be able to pull it out within a week and check out the ideas you have suggested. The slide does not appear to be hydraulic. It is powered by a single motor connected to dual gears that mesh with two geared tracks.

[Dog_Folks]

This will sound strange but it has happened to us: Make sure you push the switch HARD, during the entire cycle.

With ours if we let off the pressure at at all,(subconsciously) even though the switch was still pushed "In," the slide would stop.

Try it. Won't cost anything to check it out.

Let us know what you find.

[Vulcaneer]

Michelle.S wrote:
Don't know about your unit, but guessing you're referencing hydraulic slides. Many RVs use an auto-reset circuit breaker in the slide pump power line. These do go bad resulting in a stopping and restarting of operation and will only get worse. I would check to see if you have an auto-reset breaker and replace it.
Have had a similar issue on previous Montana and current Redwood.

This is the correct response. Follow your positive wire from the battery. It will connect to a breaker (actually two in series) that is connected under a rubber cover. Usually a red cover, and attached to the back wall of the front storage compartment. These suckers go bad frequently. Remove both of them and take them to an auto parts store for replacement. About $6.00 a piece.

This is your problem.

[Michelle_S]

Don't know about your unit, but guessing you're referencing hydraulic slides. Many RVs use an auto-reset circuit breaker in the slide pump power line. These do go bad resulting in a stopping and restarting of operation and will only get worse. I would check to see if you have an auto-reset breaker and replace it.
Have had a similar issue on previous Montana and current Redwood.

[skipnchar]

If it's not the motor causing problems you might want to look around for water intrusion around the slide room. It can make things swell and bind and will present much as you described. One way to check it is to get out the hand crank and retract it manually using the crank. You should be able to feel very easily is it is binding anywhere.

[Old-Biscuit]

With the side fully extended lift up carpet edge and inspect 'rollers' .
Should be right at edge of slide out. Slide out raises up/slides over rollers as it is retracting.

[hhoffman]

I would place a volt meter on the motor terminals while attempting to slide in. If the voltage reading goes below approximately 8 Volts then the problem is electrical.