Stripped Gear On Slide Alignment System

[Possumpoint]

Slide bound up with loud popping noise when close to Travel Trailer body. Slide out uses a rack and pinon gear system on two sides connected by a shaft to keep the slide aligned as it extends and retracts. Found slide to be out of alignment by 5-1/2" and the gear on rack and pinion alignment system on one side of the slide out stripped.

Looking closer, this was caused by the hex-angular hole in the gear being not centered. There is a visible difference in distance from edge of hole to the root of the teeth on one side of the gear versus the other. The narrow side is where the teeth stripped.

Have been delayed with a trip for 15 days waiting for that part. Was told twice that the gear was in and it wasn't the right one.

This is a 2003 Citation Skydeck, 32 ft, tt by the way. Not seeking advice on this in that I know what the problem is and what caused it. Little upset that the RV dealership has had such a hard time getting the replacement part delivered. Thought I'd pass on what I found so that it might help someone else.

[mosseater]

Wow. Mismatched gears??? Who'd a thunk to count teeth? Unless they were right next to each other you wouldn't likely see that. Glad they figured it out.

Sounds like the same Lippert system mine uses. It still runs like new. I was always more worried about the big, honkin' hole they cut in the frame rail to fit the slide through. I keep checking it.

[Possumpoint]

Update:
It took nearly three weeks and as many 1 hour trips to the RV dealership to get the correct new part. Put it on and broke it the next day when I extended the slide to adjust it. Slide was working but wouldn't close all the way. Slide jammed when I tried to retract it and I broke two teeth on the new gear. Realized that I had a major problem, was in over my head, and put the old gear back in to close the slide.

The following Monday, yesterday, I took the RV to a different RV dealership about 2-1/2 hours from our house where I've had good service in the past. Went down the road with the slide sticking out about 4 inches. They just called me (12:30 pm Tuesday)and told me what the problem is, what caused it and that they had the parts and the trailer may be ready tomorrow. The root cause was that there was a 18 tooth gear on one side and a 15 tooth one on the other side with a solid shaft between. That mismatched gear system and one of the gears being drilled off center screwed everything up.

Glad I realized I was over my head. They tell me the ram is so screwed up they're going to have to cut it out.

[Possumpoint]

Thanks for the advice.

[TucsonJim]

When mine went out several years ago, I purchased a spare to keep in my parts box. Sure enough, the it stripped out again a couple of years later due to a poorly fitted slide. Luckily, I had the spare, and I was able to fix it myself and get back on the road about an hour later.