Need steps help

doc · 08-21-2009, 09:15 PM

Would one of you Tuscany or Essence owners do me a favor and tell me what brand of steps you have inside the coach and how they attach to the coach. My Essence has steps that come level when you push a switch, giving a smooth even floor in front of the passenger seat.
While in SD recently, I tried to raise the steps in order to keep a baby from falling into the step well. One side tried to raise but the other stayed in place, causing the steps to jam into the size as they started up.

I tried to raise them the other day and it appears a shear pin has broken as I can hear the motor turn, but nothing is happening. I cannot get to the motor since the steps are down. Looking under the coach I see the outside steps and there are a couple of bolts holding this set to the bottom of the coach. I am wondering if these bolts also hold the interior steps in place along with the outside steps.
I have called my dealer twice, trying to get into contact with the service dept and get an answering machine in the service dept asking for a number and detailed message. Apparently they only wanted to sell the coach, not service it.

If I can get the brand of the steps I might be able to get some help from the factory, I am sure I will need parts anyway.
Thanks
doc

Danorske · 08-21-2009, 10:33 PM

Doc,
I just looked at mine and there was no name of anything on or under the "step-cover". I've had mine get part way up and bind and stop. If you can get to the underside at all, there is a small motor with a speedometer type cable coming out of each end. If you can tell which side is the uneven one take the cable off the motor and reinsert it back in (the square ended cable inside the housing) pull it out of the housing about 1/2 inch to insert into the motor. I hope I haven't made this confusing. If you want a picture I can get one to you.

Ron

doc · 08-22-2009, 03:52 PM

Thanks Ron, that is the type of info I am looking for. If I may ask one other favor please. Do you see any bolts that hold the steps to the floor of the coach or bolt heads that appear to go into or through the floor?
A photograph or photographs would be great.
The reason I ask this is because the outside steps look pretty heavy and I don't want to drop them if the bolts and nuts I see are not holding the inside steps in position.
Thanks again for any help you might offer.

my email is wsmith1055@aol.com
doc

roboniko · 08-23-2009, 09:50 AM

I, too, have had mine "catch" about half way up but then brought it back down and then up again.

doc · 08-23-2009, 12:25 PM

Thanks Ron, I got the photos and that helps me figure out what went wrong. I am betting the end twisted off the 'speedometer' cable now that I have seen the pictures.
This is getting as complicated as Chinese arithmetic! I cannot seem to find what holds this setup in place. I see two 1/2 inch self tapping bolts that come out on the bottom of the of the coach that may hold the steps in place. I am hoping these bolts hole the box in place and when I back them out from the backside (if I can) the box will slide out. The simplest thing is to drive the 90 miles to and 90 miles back to the dealer tomorrow and confront this do-nothing service dept. I will talk to the one tech that I trust and see what he says and how to take them out. The repair itself doesn't seem that complicated, just getting to the part that needs repair. They have an 08 Essence on the lot so we will have a copy of my coach to look at as we discuss the problem. If push comes to shove, I can always bring the coach back and let the tech work on it. Wish me luck

powerboatr · 08-23-2009, 12:32 PM

doc
i apologize for not getting back to you sooner. if any one remembers the movie the entity, thats what we have been battling all weekend, we had a water pipe freaking hose clamp blow out and was shooting water everywhere

here are some more pics, of the step
it appears to be 6 or 8 Phillips headed self tapping screws about 2" long holding mine in place, tow on the vertical rear wall and four on the lower horizontal peice
my motor has zero identifying tags but i bet it came from lippert as a hunch

DBOL · 08-23-2009, 01:19 PM

I think we all need to go to Powerboatr for schooling on all these problems we have in common,Robert through experiance or curiosity seems he has work on most of our problems that we have had.Camping here at Navarro Mills Lake I also had plumbing issue,not bad but annoying.I also have a couple more issues will talk to some one soon smarter than me.

powerboatr · 08-23-2009, 03:34 PM

doc
I thought of a maybe fix.
If you can get eh lower portion to lift up enough for a hand and 3/4" wrench
you can loosen the two cable to screw jack connection and then turn the screw jacks by hand to raise the step, it will take two people
one to turn the screw jacks and one to gently apply an upward force while you turn the jacks

also i did find two more screws i didnt see earlier they are painted black and are on both sides of the support tracks nearest the door

doc · 08-24-2009, 09:01 PM

I forget the proper name for the situation I am in here, but it is close to conundrum. Sort of like painting one's self into at corner. Damon built this thing and installed it with the steps extended level. If it breaks with the steps down, you can't get to it.
Will try the wrench and gentle pressure upward idea. I am pretty sure I can reach one side, but the jammed side is tighter and may be a pain.
The advernture continues....

powerboatr · 08-25-2009, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc

I forget the proper name for the situation I am in here, but it is close to conundrum. Sort of like painting one's self into at corner. Damon built this thing and installed it with the steps extended level. If it breaks with the steps down, you can't get to it.
Will try the wrench and gentle pressure upward idea. I am pretty sure I can reach one side, but the jammed side is tighter and may be a pain.
The advernture continues....

one other thought is to come at it from the rear where the wires go through
mine has a 3" hole and lots of foam to take up the space, it would be dark and fly by wire but may provide an easier time of access

i will pray for you, and hope it gets solved.....you never know when it will strike us

doc · 09-04-2009, 03:15 PM

I finally got into the step bay. Had to take a panel off the kick plate just to the rear of the step with a cutting wheel and a Dremel tool. I think Damon never figured on the steps failing in the down position and had no way to access them. This panel was spot welded so I cut the thing out. Will replace with screws in case it fails again.
The flexible drive coming out of each end of the 12 volt motor to the worm drive had twisted the ends off. One had actuall damaged the casing. I called the parts dept of our dealer and it took about 5 minutes to get this guy to understand I did not need parts for the entry steps, but the interior steps. He could not tell me who made the steps nor what I needed to replace the felx drives. Once again they went into this "we'll have to call you back in about 10 minutes" BS. Needless to say there has been no phone call.
Does anyone have any idea who makes these steps? Or perhaps an online connection to Damon parts?

Richard S. · 09-04-2009, 03:27 PM

Try this

Damon Motor Coach | Owners| Customer Service

rvtips · 09-04-2009, 03:40 PM

Are you saying you have power entry steps AND power interior steps ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc

I finally got into the step bay. Had to take a panel off the kick plate just to the rear of the step with a cutting wheel and a Dremel tool. I think Damon never figured on the steps failing in the down position and had no way to access them. This panel was spot welded so I cut the thing out. Will replace with screws in case it fails again.
The flexible drive coming out of each end of the 12 volt motor to the worm drive had twisted the ends off. One had actuall damaged the casing. I called the parts dept of our dealer and it took about 5 minutes to get this guy to understand I did not need parts for the entry steps, but the interior steps. He could not tell me who made the steps nor what I needed to replace the felx drives. Once again they went into this "we'll have to call you back in about 10 minutes" BS. Needless to say there has been no phone call.
Does anyone have any idea who makes these steps? Or perhaps an online connection to Damon parts?

doc · 09-04-2009, 06:04 PM

"Are you saying you have power entry steps AND power interior steps ?"

Well I guess so - the exterior steps extend and retract when the switch is on and the door opens and closes. The interior steps will power up and become level with the floor in front of the passenger seat - IF the flex shafts don't twist off and the steps don't jam.

The system is actually pretty neat, but I believe they need a heavier flex shaft to drive the worm gear that moves the steps.