Community Forums

rvmorkie · 06-06-2019, 07:41 PM

Steps stuck retracted on 2006 Sightseer 30B, light under steps working, but that's it... Looks really difficult to get the cotter pin out with the steps retracted. Sigh.....

I lubricated moving points on steps per owners manual. I moved a magnet across the sensor on door frame; no work.

Thinking it's control unit or motor....

Does anyone have any brilliant ideas on how to get to the cotter pin?

Ok, what if I do get the cotter pin out and extend the steps, then need to drive RV before fixed..? If the steps don't retract how might I work that to put the RV on the road? Thanks.

Skip426 · 06-06-2019, 07:48 PM

When my steps acted up I had to drop the drive motor and gear box off the coach , 4 , 1/4" bolts on the corners of the mount plate . WD 40 first , you don't want to break them off . then I could move the steps and access the pin .
I've seen many times the steps tied up to move the coach , NOTE , if you're inside DON'T forget they're not working.

I'll assume Kwikee steps .

billfelicia · 06-06-2019, 07:52 PM

I used a hammer to bang the motor case slightly and got it working but then I remove the motor and replace it since that just means the motor has developed a flat spot.

Regards and good luck.

rvmorkie · 06-06-2019, 09:01 PM

Yes, Kwikee.... Thanks, yes i've done some testing but will follow Kwikee testing procedures friday. I did already try tapping on motor, but no luck...

There's only about an inch crack between bottom of RV to top of top step for me to work on cotter pin removal.

JPeterson · 06-07-2019, 06:08 AM

Get an electrical extension cord that will reach from your steps to your battery. Cut the ends off and strip back the wires. Unplug the motor from under the steps. Push a wire from one end of the extension cord into each of the 2 holes in the motor plug. Touch the wires on the other end of the extension cord to your battery. Touch them one way, the motor extends, reverse the wires on the battery and the steps retract.

Do not leave the wires on the battery after the steps are fully retracted or extended because you will burn up the motor.

If this works your controller is bad.

I used this setup for a few weeks until I was able to get home. I taped up the wires at the motor and ran the cord into my battery compartment. It didn't take more than a minute to extend or retract the steps.

rvmorkie · 06-07-2019, 08:56 AM

In testing the 4-way connector, I think I have a result that implies an problem. In FIGURE 14 (check power switch), I am getting 12.45 volts with the door closed and with the door open. Now I am assuming that's how they want you to perform the tests as the instructions sometimes states power "on" and power "off" and other times states "door closed" and "door open". I did my checks with door closed and door open. SO, if that's how they meant for the test to be performed, I have 12.45 volts from White wire on 4-way connector all the time instead of just power "on". What exactly is the power switch/power switch circuit?

Kwikee's 1-800-736-9961 always busy!!!!

rvmorkie · 06-07-2019, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPeterson

Get an electrical extension cord that will reach from your steps to your battery. Cut the ends off and strip back the wires. Unplug the motor from under the steps. Push a wire from one end of the extension cord into each of the 2 holes in the motor plug. Touch the wires on the other end of the extension cord to your battery. Touch them one way, the motor extends, reverse the wires on the battery and the steps retract.

Do not leave the wires on the battery after the steps are fully retracted or extended because you will burn up the motor.

If this works your controller is bad.

I used this setup for a few weeks until I was able to get home. I taped up the wires at the motor and ran the cord into my battery compartment. It didn't take more than a minute to extend or retract the steps.

Thanks, I tried to do that in a similar way but must be doing something wrong as it did not extend for me.... I may do it your way soon...

rvmorkie · 06-07-2019, 12:22 PM

Oh, wait maybe power "on" and power "off" refers to the switch in the doorway that stops the step from retracting when you are parked somewhere and dont want the steps to retract everytime the door is closed...

Not that this I'm about to mention is the problem, but I loosened the switch from the doorway (the one the magnet on the closed door aligns with) and one of the connections is on the switch is barely attached by a thread. I'll probably need to somehow make that wire longer and re-attach....

DancinCampers · 06-08-2019, 08:39 AM

My step stuck in the extendeed position one time when getting ready to depart. I disconnected power at the motor, removed motor, lubed everything up, replaced motor and all has been well. This happened when we were parked for several months with the steps out.

In retrospect I think I could have accomplished the same by only loosening the motor mounting screws slightly, then re-attaching power connector and try and operate the steps.

Whatever approach you take, make sure you fingers and arm are not anywhere near pinch points.

rvmorkie · 06-09-2019, 05:45 PM

So, it was very difficult to remove the cotter pin (and the larger pin the cotter pin goes through) that a lot of people mentioned. It was difficult because with the steps "stuck" in the retracted position I couldn't get to the cotter pin or larger pin from beneath the steps. I had about an inch or so wide crack between the top step and the bottom of the RV to work with. Probably about 30 minutes later, pins removed and step was freed up. However, the "arm" connected to the motor wouldn't move once disconnected from the other part so the steps were extended (down), but they were not "locked" in position and wanted to move a little when stepping on them. (in other words, I couldn't reconnect levers together when steps were extended. We placed a large wooden block between the steps and clamped a pair of vice grips at one of the pivet points. That being said, if I can get the wife to agree, I think I will just drill a hole through one or two locations on the steps and used a bolt or something to prevent the steps from moving when extended. Also, we learned how to bungee the steps "up" or retracted for when you are ready to put it on the road. Seems you don't bungee the steps to something on/under the RV, you just use a couple bungee cords and "wrap" them around the steps so they can't extend or fall down...

rvmorkie · 07-21-2019, 04:10 PM

UPDATE!!!

A friend of mine wanted to try something that he has done in the past on his steps successfully.... I thought it was a waste of time since there seems to be about a half dozen reasons why the auto-steps may quit working. Well he fixed them! He removed the three 10mm bolts that holds the motor in place and unplugged the wire harness to it. Took the motor out and spun it around while blowing on the brushes. Brushes now cleaned, or cleaner than they were; re-installed everything. Step immediately started working!!!!! Thanks T.A.!