Community Forums

BPoland · 07-07-2017, 03:29 PM

A little weekend away. drove a couple hours to a new (unvisited) campground. As I went to get out of the coach, I open the door and the steps don't move. No sound. No Clicks. Nothing. After closing and opening the door multiple times. They finally started moving. They would extend about half way and start making a buzzing sound. I can pull them the rest of the way out and they will buzz for about 5 seconds and then they are fine (they stay out). When I close the door, they star to retract and at about the half way point they stop and the buzzing noise starts again. I can push them all the way up to the stowed position and the buzzing stops and they seem to stay in the stowed position.

If I had to guess, I would say I have a broken tooth on a gear. Has anybody run into a similar situation? Though I would just replace the steps, that was until I priced them

Hopefully this will be a simple fix. At least I hope so.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. At this point I'm not sure if we have Kwikee or Lippert Steps. I haven't crawled under yet.

aether_one · 07-07-2017, 03:35 PM

What's the charge state on your batteries? Sounds like maybe a low voltage issue?

Algoma · 07-07-2017, 03:39 PM

Maybe you need to lubricate all the bearings. The motor is not strong enough to overcome stuck bearings and will behave just as you describe.

Cooperhawk · 07-07-2017, 03:40 PM

I recently had a problem with out steps not retracting. Here is the thread.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/kwik...ml#post3681452

Cooperhawk · 07-07-2017, 03:43 PM

BTW, I now have a complete set of Kwikee single steps with control unit for sale. See, before I found the short I purchased a new set of steps and installed them. I now have the old steps which work just fine for sale.

Depends where you are.

BPoland · 07-07-2017, 07:52 PM

Turns out they are Kwikee 32 series steps. Part # 903209000. There is no appearant damage. Hopefully I will be able to find some kind of service or repair manual some place.

dennis45 · 07-07-2017, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPoland

Turns out they are Kwikee 32 series steps. Part # 903209000. There is no appearant damage. Hopefully I will be able to find some kind of service or repair manual some place.

Get yourself some of this and apply it to every moving joint under the steps at least twice per year and your steps will work just fine.

https://www.amazon.com/Boeshield-Wat...=boeshield+t-9

BPoland · 07-08-2017, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennis45

Get yourself some of this and apply it to every moving joint under the steps at least twice per year and your steps will work just fine.

https://www.amazon.com/Boeshield-Wat...=boeshield+t-9

Dennis45,

So you think the problem is simply the steps are binding and by lubricating everything, it should start working again? It would be nice if that works. I priced a replacement set of Kwikee 32" steps. They want $989 And that was on sale. I was thinking $200 - $300. I have no idea what makes them so expensive. I must be missing something.

Just to try the lubrication angle, I have some WD40 with me. I will give that a try.

JPeterson · 07-08-2017, 06:16 AM

A common step problem is damaged teeth on a gear of the motor/gearbox unit. Usually caused by lack of lubrication or stepping on the steps before they're fully extended. Motor/gearbox is about $75 and although a pain to change, it is not technically difficult. WD40 will clean the step pivot points but it is not a lubricant. Steps need ALL their pivots lubed at least every season, I usually do mine a few times.

Cooperhawk · 07-08-2017, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPoland

Dennis45, I priced a replacement set of Kwikee 32" steps. They want $989 And that was on sale. I was thinking $200 - $300. I have no idea what makes them so expensive. I must be missing something.

https://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/...tep-single.htm

Here's where I got mine. They were drop shipped right to my home.

RichKimball · 07-08-2017, 06:36 AM

I found that the WD-40 Gel Lube at Walmart similar to chain lube works well for spray and stay on all points.
If you need a motor, you can get one at NAPA or other parts stores. Look for a 1989 Ford Taurus driver side power window motor.

tmacc · 07-08-2017, 08:05 AM

I have a coach step on my Newmar and the motor continues to run after the steps have retracted making a ratcheting sound that I am sure is the gears slipping. Does anyone know if this is a control module issue or is there adjustment in the motor?

Cooperhawk · 07-08-2017, 08:08 AM

Are the steps fully retracted? My guess is that there is a broken tooth and the step motor has not reached it's inboard limit and is just ratcheting on the broken tooth.

tmacc · 07-08-2017, 08:40 AM

As far as I can tell they are fully retracted. I replaced the motor a few months ago and they worked fine the first few times. I took the motor back off and looked to see if there was a tooth missing on the gears but didn't find anything. The steps work fine extending its only when they retract.