Community Forums

cvbdsl · 09-20-2022, 06:37 PM

Before I start crawling around underneath any body have any ideas why when my steps go out, it continues to clunk four or five times when it is already fully extended? I have replaced the motor on a different motorhome before so I've got an idea how it works (I think)
Maybe a faulty switch somewhere. This is a new to us MH, 2007 Monarch SVE 30pdd (14 feet shorter than my previous one

)
Thanks
Chris

Skip426 · 09-20-2022, 07:13 PM

If the mechanism is clunking , I'd suspect a gear problem , not an issue with the controller .

MrMark52 · 09-20-2022, 07:16 PM

Pull the motor/gearbox assembly and see if the large gear is plastic. Even if steel, pull it off and look for missing teeth.

The Kwikee/Lippert motor control uses motor current sensing to tell it when to cut-off, not an end switch.

You can download a service manual for all their steps from Lipperts website.

DFord · 09-20-2022, 10:25 PM

Check the gear and discs.

l1v3fr33ord1 · 09-21-2022, 03:56 AM

Chris-

I owned the twin to your coach, a 2008 Holiday Rambler Admiral 30PDD. A major difference between 2007 and 2008 is the aluminum sidewall on the 2007 vs. fiberglass on the 2008. Other than that, the two years are a lot alike.

Your coach may have a Coach Step, not a Kwikee. Lippert bought the Coach Step line. Their support page is here. There was a safety recall on them, too. That link is here. I replaced the controller and re-did the recall repairs that the shop messed up.

I have wiring diagrams for your coach. If you send me a private message that includes your e-mail address, I'll send the diagrams to you.

Is your coach on a Ford or a Workhorse chassis?

joeplazek · 09-21-2022, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvbdsl

Before I start crawling around underneath any body have any ideas why when my steps go out, it continues to clunk four or five times when it is already fully extended? I have replaced the motor on a different motorhome before so I've got an idea how it works (I think)
Maybe a faulty switch somewhere. This is a new to us MH, 2007 Monarch SVE 30pdd (14 feet shorter than my previous one

)
Thanks
Chris

I have had my step all apart (thought I could fix it) and really not much to it. It ended up being the cheap aluminum housing the shaft runs through that was broken. I did try and find parts but threw the towel and just went with a new step off Amazon and installed within hours. Glad I went that way now. The hardest part was making sure I was getting a step that would bolt right in and have the same dimensions in retracted and out modes.

cvbdsl · 09-22-2022, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMark52

Pull the motor/gearbox assembly and see if the large gear is plastic. Even if steel, pull it off and look for missing teeth.

The Kwikee/Lippert motor control uses motor current sensing to tell it when to cut-off, not an end switch.

You can download a service manual for all their steps from Lipperts website.

I'm not 100% sure they are kwikee steps need to get underneath. However the owners manual does mention a magnetic switch. I'm hoping it lasts a few more cycles as were are going on our first trip in this coach this weekend (shakedown cruise).
Thanks

Chris

cvbdsl · 09-22-2022, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMark52

Pull the motor/gearbox assembly and see if the large gear is plastic. Even if steel, pull it off and look for missing teeth.

The Kwikee/Lippert motor control uses motor current sensing to tell it when to cut-off, not an end switch.

You can download a service manual for all their steps from Lipperts website.

When I had a 2000 Dutch Star the metal gear had shattered, the only place I could find a replacement at the time was through PPL. Hopefully this will be easier.

thanks

Chris

MrMark52 · 09-22-2022, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvbdsl

I'm not 100% sure they are kwikee steps need to get underneath. However the owners manual does mention a magnetic switch. I'm hoping it lasts a few more cycles as were are going on our first trip in this coach this weekend (shakedown cruise).
Thanks

Chris

All access to the motor/gearbox and control (at least for my Kwikee/Lippert Series 32) is from under the coach/stairs.
The magnetic switch is to trigger the automatic door open/close. Magnet on the screen door, prox switch mounted to screen door frame.

96 Wideglide · 09-23-2022, 10:12 AM

Mine recently quit moving completely, and it was the 3 tube shaped clear plastic pieces shown above the gear in DFord's picture, had crumbled to pieces.

Mutt · 09-26-2022, 08:21 PM

Hopefully you have corrected your step problem. It appears that I am in the same situation, except that I need a motor unit as well. I was looking at the gear boxes on Amazon, but all of them seem to be using the square hole to drive the Gear Box in lieu of using the motor driven spider gear unit. And all of the New square drive motor units appear to be using the plastic housing in lieu of the older metal housing. Do you know of a way to adapt the motor driven spider gear mechanisms where it will work with the square hole in the Gear Box?
I was not aware of the change in manufactured Gear Box Units until I started to look for a replacement. I would like to use a motor drive unit similar to the one in Dford's post. Thanks.

cvbdsl · 09-27-2022, 09:35 AM

Just an update, returned from a weekend camping trip, the steps did not fail but clunk more often. Haven't had time to look at them yet and more rain in the forecast so will be a couple of days.
The steps were the least of my problems on this trip! Thinking of trading it already

Chris

Mutt · 09-27-2022, 09:51 AM

Well, these Motorhomes are not for the weak -of-heart and patience. They require a lot of maintenance. And since I am working on 80 myself, my patience is also running thin. I probably will go the towable route shortly. Less upkeep. Hang in there and good luck. David.

mjbergh · 09-27-2022, 02:07 PM

My 2003 Camelot just had the Coachsteps stuck in the 'Out' position just as we were about to leave our campsite. We had just experienced a severe monsoon rain. Should have given me a clue as to what to look for, but I unbolted the stairs from the actuator and retracted them manually held in place with zip ties. In my initial diagnosis/troubleshooting, I suspected the motor, so pulled it out. Jumped it with a 12v battery and it freely rotated in both directions. I had previously replaced the controller and noticed the light was working when the switch was in the active position. Just randomly checked the ground screw and low-and-behold it was not only loose but badly corroded (rust). Cleaned that area up and replaced the terminal and BOOM, all working again properly. Something as simple as a ground should not be overlooked!