Slide Repair at the Factory

[J Walker]

I am at the Thor factory service facility having a list of things repaired with the biggest item being the large slide. I have a 33.2 2014 model. My concern with the slide were signs of wear on the aluminum gear teeth on the slide with some metal flakes of aluminum evident initially. After repeated use of the slide new flakes did not appear. Also, I read about updates to the slide hardware and I was interested in getting the updates while under warranty. So I pushed them to update my slide hardware. They replaced the aluminum shafts with steel, geared down the motor some for more torque and replaced the motor, and replaced the gear teeth on the slide. My rollers were already up to date. After the work was done I saw that the new gear teeth were showing initial wear with some aluminum flaking. This could be normal and I am having them check this out further before I leave. Do any of you have experience with initial wear of the aluminum gear teeth.
I took a plant tour of the new manufacturing building for the Palazzos opened last October or November. It was an interesting tour run by the chief of sales who knew a surprising amount about technical things. I took the opportunity to examine the large slides and to my amazement in the last month they have begun to have two rows of gear teeth instead of one at the top of the slide. Maybe if we really have problems they would install the new gears on our MHs.
I am waiting to see if my slide has been fixed or not. I will try to be patient and stay at the Thor service facility until it is right. All comments and experience are welcome.

[Redridge]

Interesting about the new dual row gears... thanks for that info. At least they are finding ways to improve the system. A good sign...

[Indy1951]

My large slide shows no signs of wear. It actually looks like new. I did have some metal flakes on the small slide initially but since has stopped and I can't visually see any damaged teeth. A couple of things that I do when it comes to the large slide that I don't see mentioned here much is I reset my auto levelers to level with the floor of the slide not the floor of the coach. I also use two slide locks. Don't know if any of the above mentioned really makes a difference or not but for the time being anyway all is well.

[Palazzoblues]

My 35.1 large slide shows signs of wear on both top tracks. Please explain in a little further detail about these dual tracks at the top if you can. I really don't understand. It's a shame u can't take any pictures in the factory. But before long, they will be for sale or someone will have bought one and join irv2. We will see soon enough.

I really wonder how far us existing owners would have to go to demand that Thor upgrade our existing slides to this new configuration? I few of us have been talking about more than two tracks would make for a better solution for a long time.

[J Walker]

Originally Posted by Palazzoblues

My 35.1 large slide shows signs of wear on both top tracks. Please explain in a little further detail about these dual tracks at the top if you can. I really don't understand. It's a shame u can't take any pictures in the factory. But before long, they will be for sale or someone will have bought one and join irv2. We will see soon enough.

I really wonder how far us existing owners would have to go to demand that Thor upgrade our existing slides to this new configuration? I few of us have been talking about more than two tracks would make for a better solution for a long time.

The two tracks on each end at the top for the new Palazzos look like each of the dual tracks are just like our single track. Eventually, we may be able to ask for replacement of our single tracks with a double.

[Palazzoblues]

Originally Posted by J Walker

The two tracks on each end at the top for the new Palazzos look like each of the dual tracks are just like our single track. Eventually, we may be able to ask for replacement of our single tracks with a double.

So there are two of the tracks one right on top of the other at the top? So they must have two gears one sitting on the other on the bottom of the motor. Interesting. Very Interesting. Do they look just like what's on ours? I bet they did a dual (block) setup on the top.

Okay folks, I have e-mailed my contacts at Thor about this. We will see where this goes.

Some further research reveals that MHSRV is the only dealer who has posted anything on line about 2015 Palazzo's coming soon. You can bet some of us will be inspected those pictures real close.

[Palazzoblues]

Jim,

Did you just tour the Wakarusa plant within the past couple of days? Seems as though my Thor contact has no knowledge of any changes to the Schwintek slide out mechanism. If anyone should know he will.

[J Walker]

Originally Posted by Palazzoblues

Jim,

Did you just tour the Wakarusa plant within the past couple of days? Seems as though my Thor contact has no knowledge of any changes to the Schwintek slide out mechanism. If anyone should know he will.

I toured yesterday. The guide estimated that the gear change happened in the last month.

[Palazzoblues]

Originally Posted by J Walker

I toured yesterday. The guide estimated that the gear change happened in the last month.

Those must be 2015's. And it is confirmed. There is a track being added on each end. Thanks Jim! The cat is out of the bag.

[Gingerela]

If I knew what to look for, I could check it out when I go the week after next.

I know this is a tall order, but I'd love it if someone could photograph their slide and then point out the tracks and other parts frequently mentioned here. I am completely clueless as far as where they are located and what I'm looking for.

I'd definitely like to see what Thor is doing at the factory when I visit and see how it compares. I am happy to post photos of my 36.1 but I don't know what I'm looking for.

["007"]

Here is a sticky that explains the problems with video's of how they are suppose to work and trouble discussions.

[Mauro]

I just found out that my 2014 33.2 did not receive the updated steel shaft or 500:1 gear. How difficult do you think it is to convince them to at least update those two things? Have you heard whether they would send the parts to the dealer or is the work only done in Indiana?
Thanks, Mauro
2014 Palazzo 33.2
2014 Jeep Cherokee

[J Walker]

Originally Posted by Mauro

I just found out that my 2014 33.2 did not receive the updated steel shaft or 500:1 gear. How difficult do you think it is to convince them to at least update those two things? Have you heard whether they would send the parts to the dealer or is the work only done in Indiana?
Thanks, Mauro
2014 Palazzo 33.2
2014 Jeep Cherokee

I just got back from having the factory service update my 33.2 2014 to the steel shafts and lower gear ratio. I found that I had the updated rollers already. The factory was somewhat reluctant to make the update until they detected the thumping noise when driving. I am hoping the new hardware lasts. My concern with my original hardware was that the aluminum teeth showed some initial wear with aluminum flakes. Surprisingly the replacement aluminum teeth showed more initial wear than the original ones. This still may be normal. If I had to do it over again I would probably keep the original hardware if I could get some assurance of an extended warranty. I am nearing my one year point. I would make sure you have the updated rollers which you probably do.

[Redridge]

here's a pic of the dual track... Im hoping we get to upgrade ours. C'mon Thor send out recalls!