Kountry star slide alignment

[whbrown]

I done a really stupid thing. I thought I had released both slide locks on the kitchen slide in my 2000 Kountry Star 5th wheel. I pushed the button to open the slide and I heard a couple of bangs and then I stopped the slide movement and released the other lock. My slide is now 3" out of alignment and I trying to realign it. I contacted Newmar and was told to use a 1 1/2" wrench and loosen the coupling but cannot get it to uncouple. I've seen a couple of threads on this forum saying to loosen the set screws on the pin wheel. My question is, which set screws do I loosen? On the shaft next to the wheel it appears to have a key so do I loosen the screws at the end of the shaft?

Thanks All
Bill

[GaryKD]

Hi Bill,
I've never had any luck with the set screws. The 1 1/2 inch nut you are to loosen is the only way I have been able to adjust the slide. Consider going to Lowe's or HD and getting a long bar that you can slip over the wrench. The nut is not easy to loosen, but with enough leverage, it can be done. Depending on which slide you are working with there may be more than one nut to loosen. These are slip clutches. They are designed to do just what they did. If they had not slipped, the slide motor and other parts would be broken.

Do not put the manual locks back on until you get the slide aligned and open and closed it a few times. Believe it or not, the locks can be installed backwards! If the slide works without the locks and does not work with the locks, the locks are on backwards.

[whbrown]

Hi Gary, I tried breaking the 1 1/2" nut loose which it did and it got tight again and then loosened up once again. I backed the nut out about 1/2" but it was still locked up and would not slip. Not knowing what is on the inside, I did't want to try heat. I did bang on it a few times with a ball peen hammer but no luck.

thanks

[Latitude]

Bill

The 1 1/2 nut is on a (not really sure How to explain this ) a set of fingers that grip the bar/pipe that the motor turns to move the slide. You do not have to back it off much, just loosen it. You likely had it enough before it got tight again!!!

However once it is loose these fingers could still be gripping the Pipe and this could/will be a challenge to get these fingers to open.

Rick

[whbrown]

Hi Rick, I assume this nut pushes against a collet (fingers) to grip and will not release. I am thinking that the second tight spot when loosening is trying to break the locking taper. My next plan of attack is to back off the nut until it tightens and smack it with a hammer to try to break it loose. It that don't work, I'm not sure what's next. Either cut the pipe and make a new connector or take it to a dealer. That is why I had interest in loosening set screws but Newmar tech support didn't hold out much hope for that.

[GaryKD]

Hi Bill,
Based on your posts, you have the right idea of how the slip clutch works. After you loosen the nut, try to move the slide with the motor (just a little bit). The weight of the slide may break the fingers loose. Once they are loose, the slide can be adjusted without much difficulty. Do not use any penetrating oil or any other lubricant on the fingers.

[whbrown]

Hey Gary, thank you for your patience. I was thinking of the penetration oil as the new step but we'll put that to bed. I tried jogging the switch after loosening but no luck. What do you think of heat? I've looked at my unit and I believe there is only one clutch per slide. I'll check again and if there are two, I give the other a try.

thanks, Bill

[GaryKD]

You have a very stubborn clutch. I have never tried heat. My concern about using penetrating oil is that it may loosen the clutch now, but it will not stop the clutch from becoming frozen again. It will turn the clutch into a solid piece of metal instead of remaining two pieces. This means the purpose of the clutch is lost. Other than sharp blows with the collar loose and trying to force it loose with the motor, I am at a loss. Depending on how brave you feel, you could try to run the slide in or out in the direction that the offending end will reach its' stopping point first. The motor's extra effort before getting to its' stop amperage may be enough to loosen the clutch. In theory it shouldn't hurt anything (if there is an overload the motor should stop). I have never tried this. Consider try contacting Newmar again. Tell them to forget the set screws solution. To me that is a useless recommendation. It does not solve the relationship problem between the clutch and the offending end of the slide. The factory techs must have some tricks to get the clutch loose.

[Bill0828]

I just had the same problem with the living room slide on my coach in July. I took my coach to the local Newmar dealership. I watched and learned from the mechanic.He had me open the slide about 12". He backed off the 1 1/2" nut just a quarter turn (don't turn it further he said) using a long open end wrench. He then proceeded to rap the finger housing pretty hard with the wrench to make the "fingers" release. I was more than a little surprised at the force used but he said it was the only way to make sure the fingers released. He then measured the distance to make sure the slide was even. If the fingers are open,the slide will move fairly easy but with a helper its that much easier. He retightened the 1 1/2", checked the closing action. I was on my way after a couple more movements of the slide to be sure all was OK. Took less the 30 minutes. I now carry a heavy duty pipe wrench just in case. I hope this helps on a fifth wheel.

[whbrown]

Thanks Bill, I backed the nut off much further than that. I'll try this approach. You know old saying "if a little is good, a lot is much better. That may be wrong in this case.

["007"]

Can you back off the set screws for pin wheel to free it to spin on shaft. With help push slide out than reset the locking screws on pin wheel.


Or try and back off the screw pin on shaft knuckle on end near side to be reset you will have to realign in key slot.



You may need to use some penetrating oil to free up screw pins.

[whbrown]

007, Exactly, where do I find the set screws in the wheel? I seen to one on the keyed shaft and the one on a collar at the end of the shaft but did not see any on the pin wheel.

thanks, bill

["007"]

The spoke wheel has a allen screw as all the others have in the key slot. Mine has it exposed on the right wheel in compartment for that rail.
The one in the LP tank location is hidden. If its on that end you may have to release the on nipple on shaft. That one may need some Blaster to free it cause it maybe rusted.
You could try with help move slide until screw is exposed on wheel, which ever way its done all screws have to lineup with key slot when done.
The shaft will have to be turned to line them up, once slide is squared.

[whbrown]

Hi all! I finally got the coupler broke loose this weekend and the slide adjusted. All it took was a 24oz. ballpeen hammer. I backed the 1 1/2" nut off about 1/4 of a turn where it started to get tight again and cracked it 5 or 6 good licks with the hammer and I could see it let loose. I was then able to use a pipe wrench to twist the bar to adjust that end of the slide even with the other end. Thanks all for your help.
Bill