Guardian plates self install

[BigLar368]

Originally Posted by l1v3fr33ord1

windecker-

On your post #10, you said you were able to pull the lower-edge extrusion completely out. The design on our coach prevented that. I also believe that the GP instructions say not to try removing the extrusion; this may be a general warning, so as not to mess up the folks whose coaches have an extrusion design like ours instead of yours.

I only mention this for other folks who read this thread later. I would have preferred to remove the extrusion, if it could be done and didn't create more problems.

Nice write-up, especially the pictures!

When we installed ours on one side the extrusion came completely out. I did the same exact thing and just continued on the install.

[96 Wideglide]

Great write up and pic's, Windecker ! Thanks for sharing.
I'm sure I'll be using some of your ideas!

[vito.a]

I appreciate you posting this. I don't entirely understand the process but I'm sure I'll come back and reread this before installing the plates.
Thanks for all the great pictures.

[pduggs]

Great posts.

Question:
I have looked closely at my slides and sent pictures to Chris. I can’t see any rot and most appear well sealed. My big slide on DS does have a sliver of exposed wood. It appears the prior owner may have applied some type of black waterproof sealant. Chris thought it looked okay. However, I want to stay on top of this issue as best I can. Does anyone have any suggestions on preventative maintenance other than installing the plates?

[dverstra]

Originally Posted by pduggs

Great posts.

Question:
I have looked closely at my slides and sent pictures to Chris. I can’t see any rot and most appear well sealed. My big slide on DS does have a sliver of exposed wood. It appears the prior owner may have applied some type of black waterproof sealant. Chris thought it looked okay. However, I want to stay on top of this issue as best I can. Does anyone have any suggestions on preventative maintenance other than installing the plates?

Paul
Just keep an eye on them and seal any cracks or exposed areas. You could have Chris take a good look at them in Elkhart at the Spring Maintenance Session. I had one slide that needed plates. I had them all done. Now I have less things to worry about. JMHO.


If you want to see my plates. We are quite close. The coach is in Wyoming, MI and is inside a heated area.

[pduggs]

Originally Posted by dverstra

Paul
Just keep an eye on them and seal any cracks or exposed areas. You could have Chris take a good look at them in Elkhart at the Spring Maintenance Session. I had one slide that needed plates. I had them all done. Now I have less things to worry about. JMHO.


If you want to see my plates. We are quite close. The coach is in Wyoming, MI and is inside a heated area.

Thanks for your reply. I had to store mine in Elkhart. Couldn’t find indoor storage anywhere closer.

[Windecker]

Well that is sort of what started my mission. Sometime over the summer I noticed a small tear in the forward part of the DS slide out near the wall. The wood looked good and was dry. I did not cut off or remove the small tear which was a mistake. Every time I moved the slide it tore more and more as the torn material was catching the teflon inside.

I am sure it was causing a lot of stress on the slide bottom UMHW or whatever that stuff is. So after one tear turned into 4 in that small area I finally cut the UMHW off completely in that area to remove the catching points. The wood looked perfect, bright yellow and dry. I coated it with wood sealer and ran the rest of the summer with it till last week when I installed the plates.

I figured the UMHW (again whatever it is called) tears like a potato chip bag. Finish the tear and it removes the stress points. When I cut the bad section out I just used a utility knife and created a half moon circle around that area to remove it. Also, cut at an angle to bevel the edges to help prevent more catching till I could fix it.

When installing the plates, I filled that area in extra with 5200.

One thing remains to be seen after the plate install, how the rivets will respond to sliding over the teflon skid plate inside during slide operations. Guessing it will just eat a path so to speak

Windecker

Originally Posted by pduggs

Great posts.

Question:
I have looked closely at my slides and sent pictures to Chris. I can’t see any rot and most appear well sealed. My big slide on DS does have a sliver of exposed wood. It appears the prior owner may have applied some type of black waterproof sealant. Chris thought it looked okay. However, I want to stay on top of this issue as best I can. Does anyone have any suggestions on preventative maintenance other than installing the plates?

[onechaddude]

Originally Posted by Windecker

Well that is sort of what started my mission. Sometime over the summer I noticed a small tear in the forward part of the DS slide out near the wall. The wood looked good and was dry. I did not cut off or remove the small tear which was a mistake. Every time I moved the slide it tore more and more as the torn material was catching the teflon inside.

I am sure it was causing a lot of stress on the slide bottom UMHW or whatever that stuff is. So after one tear turned into 4 in that small area I finally cut the UMHW off completely in that area to remove the catching points. The wood looked perfect, bright yellow and dry. I coated it with wood sealer and ran the rest of the summer with it till last week when I installed the plates.

I figured the UMHW (again whatever it is called) tears like a potato chip bag. Finish the tear and it removes the stress points. When I cut the bad section out I just used a utility knife and created a half moon circle around that area to remove it. Also, cut at an angle to bevel the edges to help prevent more catching till I could fix it.

When installing the plates, I filled that area in extra with 5200.

One thing remains to be seen after the plate install, how the rivets will respond to sliding over the teflon skid plate inside during slide operations. Guessing it will just eat a path so to speak

Windecker

Windecker, concerning the operation of the slide with the rivets of the GP. My coach will slightly jump when one of the rivets hits the UHMW ramp or whatever its called. I've had my plates on about 6 months but haven't run the slides in and out too many times (I'm guessing maybe 25 times). I believe it might be a little smoother now than at first but may just be my imagination. I'm like you and think it will eventually wear a little groove in the ramp and be smooth. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Chad

[96 Wideglide]

I've been hope'ing Chris or Mike will chime in on this thread, explaining why they don't / didn't pre-drill the holes before final assembly .

[Windecker]

Yup, ran mine in and out for the first time since the install and she hangs up on the rivets as suspected. I will likely correct that by manually removing some teflon slider material where the rivets ride. I can't imagine that jumping is good for anything. When I get that done, pictures to follow...
Windecker

Originally Posted by onechaddude

Windecker, concerning the operation of the slide with the rivets of the GP. My coach will slightly jump when one of the rivets hits the UHMW ramp or whatever its called. I've had my plates on about 6 months but haven't run the slides in and out too many times (I'm guessing maybe 25 times). I believe it might be a little smoother now than at first but may just be my imagination. I'm like you and think it will eventually wear a little groove in the ramp and be smooth. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Chad

[onechaddude]

Originally Posted by Windecker

Yup, ran mine in and out for the first time since the install and she hangs up on the rivets as suspected. I will likely correct that by manually removing some teflon slider material where the rivets ride. I can't imagine that jumping is good for anything. When I get that done, pictures to follow...
Windecker

Windecker, I'm curious to see those pics. I guess one can jack the slide up enough to access the Teflon glide bar to rasp a small notch? Shouldnt take too much access to do that. When I have time (been crazy busy with work lately) I'd like to see if mine is "making" their own notches from use.

Chad

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Interesting. On our coach, the rivets cut their grooves the first time in and out. This was what Chris Throgmartin said would happen.

I did have to clean the plastic bits off the Guardian Plates for a while afterwards.

[CEYER69]

Has anyone installed Guardian Plates on their slides that also have the built in slide lock mechanism on the sides? Looking at putting these on an 04 Executive PBT. I'm wondering if the additional thickness will effect the slide lock mechanism. Chris Talin said he had done a set this way but wanted to hear from anyone who has installed themselves.

Thanks to anyone providing insight!

[windsorbill]

Originally Posted by CEYER69

Has anyone installed Guardian Plates on their slides that also have the built in slide lock mechanism on the sides? Looking at putting these on an 04 Executive PBT. I'm wondering if the additional thickness will effect the slide lock mechanism. Chris Talin said he had done a set this way but wanted to hear from anyone who has installed themselves.

Thanks to anyone providing insight!

I did on my front flush floor slide with the locks. You're only raising the slide up the plate thickness, maybe a 1/8" max. I've had no issues at all.