Community Forums

spicycajun · 08-03-2010, 10:20 AM

Mine went out on the last trip have never had any issues with them, they just would not retract. The diagnostic I was given was, "bench tested steps to find gear box jammed and rusted. Lube and remove motor and tested OK, control also tested OK. Installed step on coach and connected motor, lube all pivots and steps work propery", less than $100 fix, got lucky. Question is, does everyone lube their steps periodically, what is the best practice to use and what product?

Clay L · 08-04-2010, 03:08 PM

I lube the all pivot points once or twice a year with Kwiklube. It sprays on and dries to a wax. It's made by Kwikee for steps and slides. I got it at an RV store. There is info on it here KwikLube

A couple of weeks ago a bolt that holds the motor/gear assembly broke leaving just one of four holding it to the mounting bracket.. Two others had been broken for a while.
While I had it apart I used white lithium grease to lube all of the gears and bushings. There was still plenty of grease there though.

thepratts · 08-04-2010, 03:34 PM

On mine it went out once while under warranty. They changed the control unit. It went out again about 1.5 years later. This time the repair shop said they should have replaced the motor at the same time, otherwise you have problems later. I found a kit on the web (for about $190) that included everything but the steps. Replaced the controller, motor, gears, etc. Works great now.

**CLIFFTALL** · 08-04-2010, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepratts

On mine it went out once while under warranty. They changed the control unit. It went out again about 1.5 years later. This time the repair shop said they should have replaced the motor at the same time, otherwise you have problems later. I found a kit on the web (for about $190) that included everything but the steps. Replaced the controller, motor, gears, etc. Works great now.

Please share the web site as I would like to buy a kit.

Thanks
Cliff

thepratts · 08-04-2010, 06:42 PM

Here is an example - RV Direct Online Store

This is for the kit. The picture is wrong, it includes more.

Here is the list of parts from Kwikee - Parts: Steps and Step Parts

This can be very confusing. You need to know what series you have, usually on a label on the bottom of the steps. You may be better off calling these sites for an exact match. Make sure you know which series you have.

**CLIFFTALL** · 08-05-2010, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepratts

Here is an example - RV Direct Online Store

This is for the kit. The picture is wrong, it includes more.

Here is the list of parts from Kwikee - Parts: Steps and Step Parts

This can be very confusing. You need to know what series you have, usually on a label on the bottom of the steps. You may be better off calling these sites for an exact match. Make sure you know which series you have.

Cliff

Ron & Dee · 08-06-2010, 05:26 AM

I had to replace a broken control link on my steps, and thanks to the manufacture, the fours bolts holding the unit to the bottom of the steps are not secure.

I accidently pushed two of the bolts completely through the hole, there is no way to retrieve these bolts unless you remove the complete step. After fishing and fighting for the best part of an hour with a wire and a magnet, I was able to pull the bolts back into the hole with the magnet

I must say that was strickly luck

Ron

Clay L · 08-06-2010, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron & Dee

I had to replace a broken control link on my steps, and thanks to the manufacture, the fours bolts holding the unit to the bottom of the steps are not secure.

I accidently pushed two of the bolts completely through the hole, there is no way to retrieve these bolts unless you remove the complete step. After fishing and fighting for the best part of an hour with a wire and a magnet, I was able to pull the bolts back into the hole with the magnet

I must say that was strickly luck

Ron

Those bolts should have been welded to the bracket. I had trouble with one of mine but not as much as you did, thank goodness.

If I ever have to work on it again I plan to go ahead and remove that upper bracket and do a quick tack braze on the head of the bolts.

JCM · 08-06-2010, 09:40 AM

Lube your steps with Castrol Chain Lube (for motorcycles). It is available almost everwhere and one lube should last at least 1 year. I just bought a coach where the steps stuttered when they went in, after lubing them with this oil - they now go in smoothly.
I used it on my last coach and after 7 years the steps went in and out smoothly.
Hope this helps. PS don't get any on your clothes.

macstonedude · 09-17-2010, 10:59 AM

Just repaired my Kwikee steps after it abruptly stopped working on my '99 Tradewinds. Turned out it was the grease (or lack of) inside the gearing assembly that was causing too much friction for the drive motor. Remove three screws and you're inside the gearbox where you can remove the one gear with its locating pin, clean them (the grease had congealed over the years), and regrease the assembly, The arc-shaped gear inside the assembly could be cleaned and lubed by moving the steps back and forth. There is also a cap over the pivot point for the arc-shaped gear. Clean and lube that as well. Fresh grease, re-assemble, and voila, the steps work again. (By the way someone commented on the ridiculousness of mounting the electronic control box under the steps with the motor exposed to the elements. Not an issue as it is a hermetically sealed box that is impervious to the weather, dirt, and grime.