Bedroom slide won't go out

[viajante]

We just had an odd and infuriating problem with our bedroom slide. When I pressed the extend button, the slide goes out about 2 inches, then stops. It retracts fine. The living room slide works fine. I tried running the engine and also kicked on the generator. Neither worked.

Suggestions please.

[Diplomat_St_Poo]

Did you solve your slide issue? Just interested in the outcome.

[JoeH]

I had the same situation with my Powergear operated bedroom slide on my old coach. Would go out a few inches and then not go further. It would come back in OK. I raised the bed and activated the slide. When it stopped, I could still hear the motor running. reversing direction, it came back in. I pulled the motor/gearbox assembly and took apart the gearbox. One of the gears in the gearbox had 2 broken teeth. When it got to that point going out, it would "skip"... when reversing, it would just catch the remaining teeth and come in ok. I contacted Powergear, they said I needed to buy a whole motor/gearcase. I searched around and found someone that had a broken motor unit and he gave me the gear I needed. Worked for years afterwards. As a temporary work around, when you are extending the slide and it stops, give it a push and if it's a broken gear, it may catch and extend the rest of the way.
Here's a pic showing the missing 2 teeth on the larger gear.

[viajante]

Noel wrote:
Unless I missed it.......did you operate slides on shore power ?

No... just on engine and generator.

[tropical36]

IB853347201 wrote:
PowerGear is electric. Your front slide likely has two motors, the rear only one. Suspect the rear is struggling as one motor, working harder, low voltage, still a fairly large slide. Your model definately will have issues if your batteries are old/low. Also engine must be running.
Also could be that the water level in your batteries is low.

Neither one of my front slides, have two motors. the larger and deeper one, is geared lower, so goes slower. Also is of the step up design, so lifts when it goes in and settles down tight on the floor when out.
The passenger side, is not as deep and even though heavy with the galley, goes straight in and out and a little faster.

[Noel]

Unless I missed it.......did you operate slides on shore power ?

[tropical36]

viajante wrote:
I'm not sure if our slides are hydraulic or electric. The brand is Power Gear. I have no idea if I can manually extend the slide or not.
I will try the idea of running the slide out as far as it will go then retract several times.
I don't believe the problem is with the batteries as the front slide (which is much bigger) extends and retracts with no problem.

You need to manually operate this slide.
I'll assume for now, that you can see the motor under the bed.
That being so, there should be a lever on the back of this motor and maybe enclosed in rubber. Either fixed or spring loaded and this is the electric brake that must be released while you put a wrench on the bar drive. Usually square and whereas you can use an adjustable wrench and if you're lucky enough to find a hex head on the opposite end, use a socket and ratchet for making things easier and quicker.

[IB853347201]

PowerGear is electric. Your front slide likely has two motors, the rear only one. Suspect the rear is struggling as one motor, working harder, low voltage, still a fairly large slide. Your model definately will have issues if your batteries are old/low. Also engine must be running.
Also could be that the water level in your batteries is low.

[viajante]

I'm not sure if our slides are hydraulic or electric. The brand is Power Gear. I have no idea if I can manually extend the slide or not.
I will try the idea of running the slide out as far as it will go then retract several times.
I don't believe the problem is with the batteries as the front slide (which is much bigger) extends and retracts with no problem.

[AlaskaShooter]

Ours are 2 hydraulic and the bedroom is electric. We had an issue one day and the bedroom electric motors got out of synch. The slide would move 3-4 inches then jam out of line. The solution we found on line. Simply run them in and out as far as it will go several times and the motors some how re-synch and have not had any further issues.

[tropical36]

Diplomat_St_Poodles wrote:

tropical36 wrote:

viajante wrote:
We just had an odd and infuriating problem with our bedroom slide. When I pressed the extend button, the slide goes out about 2 inches, then stops. It retracts fine. The living room slide works fine. I tried running the engine and also kicked on the generator. Neither worked.

Suggestions please.

Be sure it's level and the voltage is up around 13+, although 12.5 should get it.
No cigar, then disconnect the drive and manually crank it out, for smoothness and listening for any noise.

I agree with trying to crank it out manually. My slide has a safety switch, if it comes up against an obstruction (as appossed to an obstetrician 🙂 it stops. I gather the switch detects a rise in the voltage and it causes the slide to stop.

Possiblely if you let us know what type of slides you have we might be able to come up with more help. Doug Rainer is the geru when it comes to many of these problems.

The better ones actually have a current limiting device, so most any kind of an opposing force, including friction causes a rise in current (amps) and yes over current usually creates a voltage drop as well. These things could be made to run regardless, if so desired, but by engineering them on the weak side, the less an operate can tear up.
Pretty much gone are the days of shearing pins on the drive axle and having to carry spares.

[Diplomat_St_Poo]

tropical36 wrote:

viajante wrote:
We just had an odd and infuriating problem with our bedroom slide. When I pressed the extend button, the slide goes out about 2 inches, then stops. It retracts fine. The living room slide works fine. I tried running the engine and also kicked on the generator. Neither worked.

Suggestions please.

Be sure it's level and the voltage is up around 13+, although 12.5 should get it.
No cigar, then disconnect the drive and manually crank it out, for smoothness and listening for any noise.

I agree with trying to crank it out manually. My slide has a safety switch, if it comes up against an obstruction (as appossed to an obstetrician 🙂 it stops. I gather the switch detects a rise in the voltage and it causes the slide to stop.

Possiblely if you let us know what type of slides you have we might be able to come up with more help. Doug Rainer is the geru when it comes to many of these problems.

[Diplomat_St_Poo]

IB853347201 wrote:

Diplomat_St_Poodles wrote:

This depends on the manufacture. My slides will not extend or retract with the engine running.

I see. I had not previously heard of a MH brand where the engine was not supposed to be running when operating Jack's.

Must be quite the drain on the batteries! Which is probably the issue....

Mine will also not operate the jacks with the engine running as it has to air down as part of the leveling process.

[Diplomat_St_Poo]

Blackdiamond wrote:

Diplomat_St_Poodles wrote:

IB853347201 wrote:
I suspect that your issue is voltage. Likely your coach batteries are low. How old are they? When did you last check the water level in each? Also you mention running the RV? The RV should always be running when extending or retracting your slides.

This depends on the manufacture. My slides will not extend or retract with the engine running.

It is possible it’s coming up against an obstetrician if it worked correctly in the past. Are you able to manually crank it out?

Sorry...have to laugh out loud....obstetrician, they usually are a great help at getting things out, like babies, not holding things in. LOL

LOL. Darn autocorrect 🙂

[tropical36]

viajante wrote:
We just had an odd and infuriating problem with our bedroom slide. When I pressed the extend button, the slide goes out about 2 inches, then stops. It retracts fine. The living room slide works fine. I tried running the engine and also kicked on the generator. Neither worked.

Suggestions please.

Be sure it's level and the voltage is up around 13+, although 12.5 should get it.
No cigar, then disconnect the drive and manually crank it out, for smoothness and listening for any noise.