Slide Seal Sticking?

[John in Miami]

2013 Newmar Canyon Star 3911 (Handicap Model).
For some reason, when the driver's side slide in the bedroom is opened all the way, and stays out for a few minutes or longer, the seal seems to stick.
When retracting the slide, the bottom moves in a few inches, and then the top breaks loose/comes free and pops in. You can hear what sounds like clue/rubber coming free.
I have tried to get my hands in to see if I can find the sticking point, but no luck.
Thoughts or previous experience?

[Dutch Star Don]

If it's the seal that is truly sticking and not the slide, take an old sock, fill it with talcum powder. Attach the sock to a stick and then try and get it back to where the seal is sticking and bang it around.

[tom chelbana]

303 Protectant
Newmar Man

[John in Miami]

And where does it get sprayed?
I cannot see the part that is sticking.

[AbdRahim]

Spray entire slide seal - all of them. I use slide seal lubricant first. Than after that dries I use 303 on the outside to protect rubber from the sun.

[dbike199]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

If it's the seal that is truly sticking and not the slide, take an old sock, fill it with talcum powder. Attach the sock to a stick and then try and get it back to where the seal is sticking and bang it around.

X2
This is what Newmar recommends

[Dutchstar411]

Originally Posted by John in Miami

2013 Newmar Canyon Star 3911 (Handicap Model).
For some reason, when the driver's side slide in the bedroom is opened all the way, and stays out for a few minutes or longer, the seal seems to stick.
When retracting the slide, the bottom moves in a few inches, and then the top breaks loose/comes free and pops in. You can hear what sounds like clue/rubber coming free.
I have tried to get my hands in to see if I can find the sticking point, but no luck.
Thoughts or previous experience?

If the seal has come off of what holds it on, you'll have to remove your slide topper by using cotter pins on each end to hold the springs in place and remove the topper enough to get to the seal itself. If you can re-push the seal back in place if the seal is still OK then you can baby powder it up, (that's the way it comes from the factory,) put your topper back on and you should be good to go. Otherwise you'll need to replace the entire slide seal which I can tell you from first hand experience, is a pain the the butt!

[dbike199]

I am in the process of replacing the slide seals on my 2005 DSDP. Easy to remove and clean up old glue residue from the glue flap with a 3m eraser wheel and a drill. Now getting the seal clipped back on is a slow task but can be done as long as you take your time. I did the bedroom slide last Saturday. Plan to do the other slide tomorrow. My seals were 16 years old and showing some deterioration so it was time to replace them. I'll add a new post this week on how I did it.

[John in Miami]

Good luck on the slide seal replacement. Let us know how it goes.

[TheGingerGuy]

Just posting to say thank you for this thread. My bedroom slide also hesitates a bit at the top, and upon my own investigation it seems directly linked to the topper / awning component tension. A bit more forum searching seems to suggest this is at least somewhat "common" and apparently isn't a concerning issue unless it really does get physically stuck.

I'm gonna break out the talcum powder sock and dust up all the slide seals just as a good preventative measure. This is sort of reason why I like forums

["007"]

Very good answers in this thread for any slide in your coach, will be adding into the slide thread The Good, Bad & Ugly. found in this sticky.
Newmar also recommends the 303 spray for slide seals and many still use the talc.

[lass]

Just last week I had the Newmar mobile tech at my storage facility to adjust my slides and he specifically stated that telcom/baby powder is recommended. They do not want any sprays which may accumulate dirt or debris which also can hinder movement.

[Dutch Star Don]

Just a side note for those with the Girard slide toppers. If yo look closely at the metal covers for the topper, you can see joints (both ends) that I believe cause these things to hang up some when they open and extend. Occasionally, I lube those joints.

["007"]

I have use the talc and also the 303, 303 dries and does not collect dirt, the choice is yours.