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Old 01-06-2025, 04:53 PM   #1
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Hydraulic slide retraction issue

I have a 2023 Allegro Bay 38BB and I’m having an issue when trying to retract the drivers side slide. It’s a full wall slide. When I try to retract the slide only the front retracts. The back side moves a little, but not enough to keep up with the front. I have to extend the slide a little bit and then try to retract it again and back comes in some more. I usually have to do this twice before being able to fully retract the slide.

I took the RV back to the dealer I bought it from and they said there was some air in the line and fix the slide seal which had torn. It cost $900 to “fix”.

A month later I went camping and had issues with the jacks. Took it back to the dealer and they told me the entire hydraulic pump and manifold needed to be replaced. Even though the RV is out of warranty Lippert picked up the cost for everything. I got the RV back just before the new year and we have left on a 3 month trip and I’ve got problems with the slide. Now the slide is acting up again.

I’m hoping someone here will have some suggestions as to what might be wrong. I’ve very little faith with my dealer at this point.
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Old 01-09-2025, 06:41 AM   #2
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Is your hydraulic reservoir full? It should be checked with slides and jacks retracted and the coach on level ground to get an accurate reading. If the reservoir was not serviced/filled to capacity during replacement/installation or if it wasn't 'burped' (removed air from the lines), that may be your problem.

Where are your jacks when experiencing the slide issues? Up or Down? If the down, retract everything (slides and jacks) and extend and retract the slide w/the jacks UP. Does it retract? Check for leaks under the pump, the coach, and the basement. Note that depending on your coach you may not be able to spot a basement leak due to hydraulic lines running behind the water bay and/or where your water tanks are hidden behind panels.

If the slide retracts with the jacks up, and you have no leaks, you probably need to service the reservoir. If you're still having problems have a poorly serviced reservoir and/or air in the lines. If the reservoir is low, refill with the hydraulic fluid recommended by the manufacturer (some use power steering fluid). Hopefully the service shop didn't service it w/incompatible fluids (not recommended) during installation. If you have air in the lines, the system will need to be burped to rid air out of the lines, which if true, may be trapped in the vicinity of the rear hydraulic piston where the slide is not retracting.

Lastly, it could be a bad piston and/or hose connection at the piston.

If you're still having issues and you don't trust your dealer, I'd stop letting them spitball since they haven't fixed your problem yet and will just keep throwing your money at their next guess. Recommend giving NIRVC a call. That's who I trust with things beyond my ability. You can also call your rig's manufacturer customer support for their thoughts.

Good luck
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Old 01-09-2025, 07:05 AM   #3
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Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll take a look and see what I can eliminate.

If I wasn’t clear in my first post my dealer has only “fixed” the slide problem once. The second service was a jack issue and the entire pump and manifold were replaced with zero out of pocket cost to me. Since the first “fix” didn’t solve the problem I’m now heeding the words of two other people I’ve bumped into that have had issues with this dealers service center. I’ll call NIRVC and Tiffin.
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Old 01-09-2025, 07:39 AM   #4
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Just to be clear: On your first repair they repaired the slide seal not the slide piston seal.
Over the years both of our pistons have had to be replaced because of ripped internal piston seal. On each occasion slide acted just as you described.

I do not think air in system is an issue because when I replaced the pistons took no care to bleed air out of the system just ran them in and out a few times and all air was expelled.

There is a way to check for a passing piston seal. You need to identify on the manifold block which hose goes to each piston, extend and retract. If you undo the correct hose there should be no oil coming out of the "un-pressurized side of the piston" when retract is selected.

The other symptom when our seal went bad was the slide would creep out a bit when the legs were operated.
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Old 01-12-2025, 07:27 AM   #5
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Through trial and error I have found that the full wall slide retracts reliably when the jacks are up. It would appear something is binding when the RV is level which doesn’t make sense. I would expect the exact opposite to happen.

Retracting the jacks with the slides out seems like a really bad idea since the jacks retract in such a fashion as to really shake the RV. I’ve been lucky the past couple of days with having level campsites so I’ve not extended the jacks. Time to call Tiffin and/or NIRVC
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Old 01-12-2025, 10:40 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by harris155 View Post
There is a way to check for a passing piston seal. You need to identify on the manifold block which hose goes to each piston, extend and retract. If you undo the correct hose there should be no oil coming out of the "un-pressurized side of the piston" when retract is selected.
I disagree with this idea. The hydraulic cylinders for the slide are two way cylinders and both ends are full of oil. If you remove the line of either unpressurized end and pressurize the opposite end, the oil in the unpressurized end will spew out.

What you say in the above post would indicate the pump tank may be low on oil. If the jacks are down and they are one way jacks (spring retract?) it will lower the oil level so the slides may not operate properly. With the jacks up, there is enough oil in the tank to operate the slide cylinders properly. Check the oil level in the tank with the jacks up.
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Old 01-12-2025, 02:36 PM   #7
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Sounds like your hydraulic reservoir is low and there's not enough fluid to run both the slides and the jacks (one or the other but not both, right?). And if it's really low you may be sucking air into the lines which is why it's shaking the RV.

Retract everything, check the reservoir fluid level and fill if it's low. If you need to add fluid, call your dealer or look at your service receipt to see which fluid they put in there. Don't mix fluids as they may be incompatible and can actually damage your pump.

Good luck
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Old 01-13-2025, 08:44 AM   #8
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check fluid level first. it doesnt have to be exact, but with the jacks down, its going to be low. follow directions in the manual for system positions before dhecking fluid.
for instance, jacks shoukd be up. if you have a full wall slide, the room must be extended. all above the floor mechanisms must beextended. all below the floor mechanisms must be retracted.
anyway, if fluid is good, do this. if the full wall slide is extended, push extend and hold it for 5 to 20 seconds then hit retract. this pressurizes the system and makes sure the room has pressure on all the lines. the problem sounds like the retract solenoid is leaking and the pressure is down, causing it to lag behind when retracting.
please let me know what happens. maybe i can help.
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Old 01-13-2025, 09:45 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by azpete View Post
... jacks should be up. if you have a full wall slide, the room must be extended. all above the floor mechanisms must be extended.
Definitely follow the guidance specific to your system. Mine is different than what is described above -- mine says retract everything -- meaning follow your series manual. I'm including the copy for my HWH 725.

Good luck
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File Type: pdf Jacks - Checking Hydraulic Oil Level.pdf (115.5 KB, 1 views)
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Old 01-13-2025, 10:08 AM   #10
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Definitely follow the guidance specific to your system. Mine is different than what is described above -- mine says retract everything -- meaning follow your series manual. I'm including the copy for my HWH 725.

Good luck
if your touch pad says all retract, check to see if its a lippert or power gear system.
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Old 01-13-2025, 11:18 AM   #11
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Unfortunately you’re not the only one with problems with the rear hydraulic slides from Lippert. Why did Tiffin go with Lippert instead of HWH?.$$
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Old 01-13-2025, 11:54 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by Rick McNeal View Post
Through trial and error I have found that the full wall slide retracts reliably when the jacks are up. It would appear something is binding when the RV is level which doesn’t make sense. I would expect the exact opposite to happen.

Retracting the jacks with the slides out seems like a really bad idea since the jacks retract in such a fashion as to really shake the RV. I’ve been lucky the past couple of days with having level campsites so I’ve not extended the jacks. Time to call Tiffin and/or NIRVC
Hi Rick,
I see you were considering giving us a call, if you tell me where your located, I'm happy to arrange to have one of our shop or service managers contact you to assist with the diagnosis. Feel free to PM me also.

Regards,
Bill
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Old 01-13-2025, 05:25 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by azpete View Post
check fluid level first. it doesnt have to be exact, but with the jacks down, its going to be low. follow directions in the manual for system positions before dhecking fluid.
for instance, jacks shoukd be up. if you have a full wall slide, the room must be extended. all above the floor mechanisms must beextended. all below the floor mechanisms must be retracted.
anyway, if fluid is good, do this. if the full wall slide is extended, push extend and hold it for 5 to 20 seconds then hit retract. this pressurizes the system and makes sure the room has pressure on all the lines. the problem sounds like the retract solenoid is leaking and the pressure is down, causing it to lag behind when retracting.
please let me know what happens. maybe i can help.
602 549 3638
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i work full time for hwh corp. i do not solicit part sales on this forum. i do not do service work except as assigned by hwh corp.
Thanks for the suggestions. I’ve got a Lippert system, but I’ll give the 20 second count a shot when I break camp on Wednesday.
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Old 01-13-2025, 05:34 PM   #14
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Sounds like your hydraulic reservoir is low and there's not enough fluid to run both the slides and the jacks (one or the other but not both, right?). And if it's really low you may be sucking air into the lines which is why it's shaking the RV.

Retract everything, check the reservoir fluid level and fill if it's low. If you need to add fluid, call your dealer or look at your service receipt to see which fluid they put in there. Don't mix fluids as they may be incompatible and can actually damage your pump.

Good luck
I can raise and lower the jacks at anytime, they don’t seem to be troubled in any way. I’ve got three slides, two small ones and one large full wall slide. This problem only occurs when retracting the full wall slide (I’ve pulled in the other two) and it always is the rear part of the slide that fails to retract.

On Wednesday I’ll check the level and add some ATF fluid (the manual states ATF with Dexron III). My manual calls for the level being 1/4” to 1/2” from the top. I’ve looked at the level a couple of days ago and it was near the top, but I didn’t measure which I’ll do.
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