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CharlesBrown · 11-09-2023, 03:32 PM

Folks,
This is my first attempt of sharing some work that I did on my Ventana. The seasoned Newmar owners probably are well aware of this repair, but perhaps it may help a newby like myself.

I had two electric actuators that were sticking on my cargo doors. The doors (Chassis Battery and DEF door) are open to the environment underneath and let dirt and dust into the lock area. The electric locks worked (lock and unlock), but the key lock would only lock but not unlock. The key was immoveable and would not back-drive the piston rod.
Upon checking on the Newmar website for replacement actuators and finding they were about $60 each, I decided to investigate fixing them myself. I used to sell devices such as these and I knew they cost about $10 from China.

I have attached pictures of removing the actuator, disassembling it, lubricating the parts and reassembling it.
The rubber boot on the actuators was destroyed. You might be able to buy new ones from TriMark, but I doubt it, they cost about $0.10 each. If anyone knows where to buy them, please chime in.
Removing the actuator is simple,
>1. Remove the two Torx screws from the bracket, then disconnect the wires. One is blue, the other is green. There is a small linkage that will slide out of the clevis that's on the end of the piston. Simply pull on the bottom of the bracket and wiggle the actuator out of the lock.
>2. I used a razor knife to slice the label down the parting line of the housing, allowing the assembly to be split open.
>3. Remove the four Philips head screws and unfold or open the actuator. This will expose the small motor, plastic gear with a lead screw molded into it and the piston rod.
>4. Using standard household cleaner (Formula 409) I cleaned everything.
>5. Using common white lithium grease,
> Lightly coat the drive gear on the motor and lead screw.
> Moderately coat the lead thread on the lead screw.
> Moderately fill / coat the slots in the housing that keep the piston rod
straight.
>6. Put everything back in place as it came apart. The location of the piston not crucial. You can rotate it to any location as long as the guides are within the slots.
>7. Install the top cover, being careful to align the wires of the motor with the exit hole and snap it together.
>8. While holding the covers together with your hands push / pull the piston rod in and out until it has a smoother motion from the new grease.
When everything is moving smoothly, just reinstall the philips screws, mount back onto the bracket, plug the electrical connections together and your done.

Thanks for listening & have a great day,

Mr JP · 11-11-2023, 05:47 PM

Great write up Thanks for the info.
JP

MNawman · 11-12-2023, 09:16 AM

Great write up. I had the same issue on the same doors. I got frustrated and disconnected the actuator from the lock and just used my key. I ll clean and lube them now that I know how. Thank you!

Mark

GSDguy · 01-14-2024, 08:14 PM

As has been written many times before me - this group is awesome. I am dealing with the exact same issue on my Dutch Star and thought there must be a way to fix the part itself. Great write up and very helpful - thank you.

Vanha Pieru · 10-06-2024, 07:40 PM

OK, Great write-up. Easy Peasy now. All the dirt in there it's amazing they worked at all!

Anyone out there figured out something to replace that rubber bellows dust cover on the shaft? Most of mine have deteriorated.

Thanks.

Vanha Pieru · 10-11-2024, 02:27 PM

Great idea on the repair, thanks!
OK, so I tore these apart. I have 7 that were froze up (key would not work). Took them all apart, cleaned, lubed. Only 2 were successful, others still don't work. Perhaps too much wear from the dirt?? Anyway, Trimark does not sell the bellow or parts, but new ones from there are aboout $21.
Trimark said the new ones do not use the bellows but has a "wiper" instead. No new belllows to be found, So here is how I resolved that.
Remove the old bellows CAREFULLY to keep that bottom part intact. Clean, it up, etc.
Ace hardware has grommets like for wires thru a firewall that fit pretty close on the shaft. It needs to fit loosely enough so the shaft can slide freely. The bottom part on the old bellows will slip over and into the groove in the grommet.
I used a piece of felt cut to fit inside the old bellows base (5/8" socket size?) and a small hole in the middle (3/32" I think I used). this needs to fit snug on the shaft. Put this over the shaft, under that grommet inside the old bellows base. Slide this all down over the actuator housing and secure with a zip-tie.
Than I cut a strip of the felt and tucked it inside that grommet around the shaft. Not Perfect but it will outlast me I bet.
If one had a thick piece of felt perhaps would not need the grommet??
When I reinstalled, the zip tie rubs on the side of the bracket and pushed off that grommet/ziptie so I had to add a small washer/spacer on the top screw that holds the actuator in place.
Sorry about the poor pics. First attempt with the Big square (second pic)of felt did not work so had to go to the small piece and forgot to take a pic of that.