Slide Motor Bolts breaking on Allegro Bay

[stubbs]

Has anyone had problems with the bolts breaking on the slider motor of an allegrobay motor home. The slider has an electric motor with one inch tubing extending to a gear on each side. I have replaced several motors and many of the quater inch bolts that pin the tubing to the motor. I even took it back to the factory when it was new but whatever they did didn't fix it. Can anyone tell me how to stop this or tell me where I can get info or repair manuel?

[Gouda]

What sort of bolts did you use? I believe they need to be class 8 and the non-threaded portion should extend past the tubing so the stress isn't applied to that area. However, also be sure your rollers are, well rolling or something isn't interfering. It isn't a uncommon problem, but it shouldn't be happenning all the time. What model and what slide?

[EngineerMike]

If the bolts are not a tight fit, perhaps they are wobbling which puts load on them in a non-perpendicular way that increases the stress in the bolt. If so, it might be possible to drill out the tubing to take a 3/8" bolt to get snug again.

[paz]

stubbs -

We had a problem with bolts breaking all the time. For me, the solution to stopping the breaking had 2 parts. The first part was to get the correct Power Gear special bolts AND nuts. The second part was to make sure the bolts are TIGHT. See the drawing of the Power Gear bolts and nuts below. Note that the proper torque is 168 in-lb (14 ft-lb). That is really tight for a 1/4" bolt, but it is what is required for this application. DO NOT try to tighten a standard 1/4-20 bolt that tight - Grade 8 only.

My theory is the original bolt broke because it became loose. I used standard Grade 8 bolts I got at Lowe's for about about 2 years with the bolts breaking about every month or two. Once I got the right bolts and nuts and tightened them to the proper torque, no more breakage.

The bolts are available directly from Power Gear or from Tiffin. You may want to order a couple of spares just in case, but I have had no further problems. I recommend checking the bolt torque a couple of times a year.

[stubbs]

This is the info I was looking for, Thank you! I actually live close to Red Bay, Al where Tiffin is located. There is a surplus business located there that has everything associated with Allegro, they should have the bolts you suggested. I will post my results. Thanks again to everyone!

[paz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stubbs This is the info I was looking for, Thank you! I actually live close to Red Bay, Al where Tiffin is located. There is a surplus business located there that has everything associated with Allegro, they should have the bolts you suggested. I will post my results. Thanks again to everyone!

They sell the bolts and nuts in the Campers Choice store at the campground by the repair center (around $1 a set, I think). If they don't have them in the store, I'm sure they can get them from the Parts Dept., or try McKinneys across the street.

[stubbs]

Thanks for all the info! Another question I have is, should the slider stop in a certain spot automatically or should it just bog down. The motor has been replaced, I didn't know if it should have mechanical or electrical stops to keep from torqueing the mechanism to much.

[mfire1339]

stubbs, I believe it shoud stop when it reaches a preset load on the motor via the control board. I don't know if it is adjustable. I would have a look at the board.


Mike

[Melmoses]

Our our Phaeton, the electric slide motor only stops when you take your finger off the button whether coming in or going out. When you hear the gears start to "grind", finger off! In regard to the slide bolts, first try to replace with the proper #8 grade bolt from the Tiffins Parts Store at the Service Center using the proper torque. Look for a wallowed out hole before putting the new bolt in. Some people use metal washers when replacing the bolt. If the bolt continues to break, then you may have a slide adjustment that needs to be done. This happens when the slide doesn't come in evenly on both ends causing stress on the bolt. Hope it is a simple fix for you.

[paz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stubbs Thanks for all the info! Another question I have is, should the slider stop in a certain spot automatically or should it just bog down. The motor has been replaced, I didn't know if it should have mechanical or electrical stops to keep from torqueing the mechanism to much.

I think the the way the slide mechanism knows when to stop is when the load on the motor reaches a preset level, so ours sounds like it bogs down before it stops. I think there are mechanical stops, and hitting those stops is what increases the load on the motor.

[TAB09]

Just Curious! How many slides does your coach have and is it the front slides or the rear ones if you happen to have four? I have a 09 Allegro Bay that has three out of four bolts that secure the rear slide motor, that have loosened and will no longer tighten; I believe that the threads have been damaged and will now required a larger size bolt. Is this the same issue that is being discussed by everyone, or is this a different issue?

[wa8yxm]

Sounds like power gear slides.. I used to buy those bolts by the dozen, still have 10 left.

What I did was (On the suggesiton of another forum member) buy LONGER bolts, bolts long enough that the NON THREADED portion of the bolt extended through the shaft.

This meant I had to stack washers up I alternated split ring lock washers (Standard ones) with I think two thick standard washers) to get the nut to tighten down, but it also means that the sold shank of the bolt, NOT the threaded part, is where the shaft hits the bolt.

To date, since putting these in.. I've not had to replace one.. YET. (been quite a while too)

The Factory original had a shorter thread, a longer "Shank" and a nut that was very thick and only threaded in part so it came down over the un-threaded shank part.

[TAB09]

I apologize I may not have explained my issue correctly. I am talking about the rear slides motor bolts. Three of the four on my motor appear to be stripped, To date I haven't had any break. Also the threads on mine seem to be internal into the frame, there isn't any nuts so to speak. My Coach is built on a Freightliner frame. Again I apologize for the confusion, Thank You.

[TAB09]

I do have one additional issue that I would like to open for discussion. Has anyone ever had occasion to have to replace the dryer vent hose on a Washer/Dryer combo that is in a cabinet in the bathroom. The hose runs down into a space under the floor and through the frame and attaches to a vent mounted on the passenger side of the frame. There isn't very much space in which to work and to date I have not found any access panels or any other places which might allow easier removal and replacement of the vent hose, Thank You.