Community Forums

chefred112 · 02-07-2021, 05:23 PM

So earlier today as I'm waiting for superbowl to start I decide to do some maintenance on my slide outs (dress the seals, white grease the slideout cogs)... so, i'm running my slides in and out frequently to get all around the cogs and the arms that bend back an forth. After a bit I decide I want to spin the coach around so I can open the slides over the sidewalk in front of the house so i don't impede any traffic on the street side (I live in a court so traffic is minimal anyways). Well, I don't realize it but my 5 year old engages the slideout lock sometime before I spin the coach around...as you guessed it, I start the slide (I usually almost always stay inside to watch it go out), but this time I start and then go outside to watch it come out... I hear some noises but didn't think anything of it but I noticed the slide stops before the window is fully outside...walk around inside and I see the mangled slideout lock bent outta shape...I went nuts on my son who was standing there (he ran inside to mommy..), I surveyed the mess and know that I cannot unbend it as the arm in the middle is almost sheared all the way thru....so I unscrewd the arm to remove and I am able to open and close the slide normally... I've since gone in the house and got my son and apologized for my "excitement" and showed him that the slideouts still work ok...

chefred112 · 02-07-2021, 05:28 PM

At least enjoying the super bowl now..

chefred112 · 02-07-2021, 05:40 PM

The mangled piece, I opened the slide to unbend it a little bit before taking it off

chefred112 · 02-07-2021, 05:45 PM

Sitting in front of the house...

PetesMH · 02-07-2021, 05:54 PM

I did that once on my full wall slide and my slide lock looked about the same. Scary as hell but it appeared to have done no other damage. And I learned that it wasn’t hard to remove the mangled part! I did my damage on the first night of a 30 day trip. I remembered my salesman and service advisor both recommended that I not use the slide locks because sooner or later one would be forgotten and the damage could be severe. Anyway I finished the trip with the lock removed and didn’t notice any adverse effects. I did buy a new lock but I only rarely use them now.

New2road · 02-08-2021, 12:24 AM

I took our rig to CW for oil change and detail. Told the service writer that the slide locks were engaged since it was a bit of a drive from home.

I get a phone call from said service writer, " how long have your slides been out of plumb?!" NOT

I went nuclear on service manager, had to have slides re-adjusted, and learned my lesson on CW service.

Sometimes I think, surely there is a way to install some safety micro switches to make sure Drivers chair is fwd enough and slide locks are off prior to slide controls working. I guess it's just a question of time, money, and complication.

Administrative controls and people are the weakest link to safety.

j

Dav L · 02-08-2021, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New2road

Sometimes I think, surely there is a way to install some safety micro switches to make sure Drivers chair is fwd enough and slide locks are off prior to slide controls working. I guess it's just a question of time, money, and complication.

Administrative controls and people are the weakest link to safety.

j

Sure, there are lots of ways. What comes to mind to me is a tilt switch on the locks, and possibly an infrared sensor shooting across the floor to detect if the chairs are in the way. Or a switch on the chair slider to detect it's position. Those sensors are then wired to an automation controller that has the logic of "what to do or not to do". The automation controller is then wired to a relay to lock out the slide control system....

hohenwald48 · 02-08-2021, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chefred112

So earlier today as I'm waiting for superbowl to start I decide to do some maintenance on my slide outs (dress the seals, white grease the slideout cogs)...

So, I'm wondering about "grease the slideout cogs". I thought Newmar said not to lube the slides or cog wheels. Am I wrong?

chefred112 · 02-08-2021, 12:38 PM

just for reference, the Newmar part # is 19812 (32 1/2"), they are sold in pairs.

I'll have to check on the lubrication...before I lubricated the cogs I could hear squeaks and other noises as the slides opened/closed, noises gone after lube.