Community Forums

ImagineIF · 05-23-2010, 12:49 PM

The hydraulic rams won't hold one of my slides in for more than a day. I noticed that the floor of the slide out is about 1/2 above the floor that it's sitting over when all the way in. I suspect this is causing the pressure that has the bottom of the slideout coming open. If you look at the outside of the slideout after it's loosened up the bottom edge is open about a 1/2" and the top is closed.

Should the hydraulic ram continue to hold the slideout in? If so, why isn't it? Maybe there's a check valve or similar that's bleeding down. Or should the slideout floor rest on the chassis floor when slid in? If if should, I have no idea how to accomplish this and would be concerned that it would scratch the tile floor that's under the slide out.

Thanks in advance,

markpj23 · 05-24-2010, 10:10 AM

Sounds like you're referring to the front roadside slide. It does 'float' above the floor even when extended.

Either you have a hydraulic leak or as you guessed one of the valves is leaking by. Have you gone through the LCI hydraulic pump fiasco? The pump may also be allowing leak-down but I would think the valve body would prevent that. If you have a leaking pump they will/should replace the entire unit including the valve body.

Is your hydraulic pump leaking? Ours is and will soon be replaced....

ImagineIF · 05-24-2010, 10:23 AM

Mark,

What LCI hydraulic pump fiasco? My pump may have a bit of fluid around it, but doesn't that looks like a continous leak.

Thanks,

markpj23 · 05-24-2010, 11:35 AM

Gil - I had the same "oh crap" moment shortly after I joined this forum. The hydraulic pump manufactured by Lippert (LCI) has a long ugly history. There is a $3 seal around the pump end of the motor that leaks and allows the hydraulic oil to saturate the motor, which eventually fails. On my coach my first real problem came when I tried to extend the genset - it worked but the motor sounded like it was struggling. Now it sounds that way whenever I operate house slides or the genset slide. It's because of the oil in the motor, and I know it's going to quit soon.

The thread "Lippert Seal Replacement" in the Monaco Owners forum is a great one. http://www.irv2.com/forums/f115/lipp...ent-60352.html

From what I've found on the forums, many owners were told that LCI would not honor the warranty since Monaco went bust. Several paid the replacement cost ($1,300 or more) out of pocket, and others complained to NHTSA. Their ground breaking actions (THANK YOU!!) now have LCI in a position where they will cover replacement. I called them last week, got a reference case number, sent them a picture of the unit so they could determine the correct part number, and they are working with a local RV shop to send out the replacement pump. I believe they also cover 4 hours labor to do the replacement.

Anyway, if you have ANY signs of leakage around that pump - particularly the motor end rubber cap (for manual operation with a drill) then your seal has started to fail. Call LCI before they change their minds.....

ImagineIF · 05-24-2010, 07:07 PM

Thanks Mark!

golden · 05-25-2010, 08:34 AM

I'm not sure if you have the same problem as I did, but mine would close and then "slip out" a couple of inches. It turned out to be a solenoid (don't ask me which one) which was replaced and the problem fixed.