Slide Out Clutch?

[jwchenault]

My unit is nearing the expiration of the warranty period and I have noticed that when I run the slide in or out the clutch on the drive mechanism seems to slip prematurely, often requiring someone to push on the dinette in order for the gasket to pull up tight at the bottom on the way out and also someone outside pushing on the slide in order to get it moving on the way in is this normal or is it something I need to have looked at while warranty is in force?

[Joe417]

Lippert owns Happijac and just recently someone on the net had a clutch/gear issue with a slide mechanism.

I'm sure the type of mechanism depends on the age of the unit but the picture posted looked like a 6" version of the Happijac truck camper jacks. Same power head.

If that's what you have, it definitely has a clutch. The clutch is adjustable, but I've never adjusted one. Two of mine were having problems. I sent them back to Happijac, they reworked them, and all has been well since.

If that is the case and you have to send them to Happijac for warranty rework, mine took about 2 weeks.

[kaydeejay]

jwchenault wrote:
KayDeeJay's description of the clutch mechanism in his unit sounds right to me and would produce the sound I was trying to describe.

I like the cordless drill clutch analogy - perfect! Wish I had thought of that!

[mchero]

Let the warranty take care of it this time. Good information for us all!

[jwchenault]

KayDeeJay's description of the clutch mechanism in his unit sounds right to me and would produce the sound I was trying to describe.

[jwchenault]

Not sure but believe it is a lippert components above the floor sofa slide. It slides both sofa and dinette and has a tuson motor. Went through all papers and found nothing specific on slide however I got some CRC dry ptfe lube and sprayed the slide tracks and gears ran it in and out a couple of times and viola no more slipping clutch until the slide is fully extended or fully retracted. The clutch I'm referring to works like a clutch on a cordless drill when a preset torque is reached it makes a sound very similar to a drill clutch.

[kaydeejay]

wa8yxm wrote:
YOu have a clutch??????

Yes I do, three ball bearings sandwiched between two spring loaded two plates with ball detents on the motor drive shaft. The second plate drives the slide gears. When the load gets too high the balls overcome the sandwich spring pressure and ride out of the detent holes, allowing the motor to continue to turn while the output shaft is stopped. Makes quite a racket when that happens!
Mine was slipping far too easily. On dismantling the motor assembly I found there was a nut on the output shaft that adjusted the spring clamping pressure. Tightening this nut stopped the clutch from slipping too early. It now works as it should.
As I said, a PITA. If under warranty let the dealer take care of it.

[mchero]

wa8yxm wrote:
YOu have a clutch??????

If the OP would have given us the make/model of the slide we could quickly determine if it has a clutch or not.

Both my full wall and headboad lides have no clutches. Shear pins yes.
My Atwood "levelegs" have clutches in the gearboxes. I've replaced RR now the LR gearbox just crapped out :M I have to pull the LR jack to verify if that )(*#)(*# shaft split!

RM

[wa8yxm]

YOu have a clutch??????

[jwchenault]

I found an identical problem in another forum where an application of dry lube to the slide out rails and tracks solved the issue. I will attempt to apply dry lube to these areas before calling the dealer.

[kaydeejay]

Joe417 wrote:
It is not normal.

You should only have to touch the button. Get it corrected before warranty expires.

X2. Clutches ARE adjustable, but a PITA to do. Let the dealer take care of it for you.

[Joe417]

It is not normal.

You should only have to touch the button. Get it corrected before warranty expires.