Help Needed for Screeching Slide Issue

[pmueller]

My slide screeches and squeals extremely loud in either direction. When bringing the slide out, the noise occurs near the end of the cycle as the slide goes over a hump. When bringing the slide in, the noise occurs at the beginning of the cycle, again as it goes over the hump. I have looked under the lip from inside the RV and can see no obstruction. I have also tried spraying slide spray on the black plastic curved edge of the slide that is under the carpet edge inside the RV.

Any ideas?

2009 Forest River Solera
1-slide (dinette/pantry/closet)

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by pmueller

My slide screeches and squeals extremely loud in either direction.

This means the slide needs to be fed.

Mine eats a steady diet of DRY LUBE like:

Camco RV Slide-Out Lube and Protectant, RV Maintenance, 5th Wheel & RV Products, Auto & ATV : Cabela's

[pmueller]

Lou, I use the Camco slide-out lube on the rails, which helps the slide go in and out more easily but does not stop the screeching. Is there another place I am missing?

[Herk7769]

Not sure how the slides work on the Solera, but my main slides have a tube that rides through the frame and I also spray the gears in the rack clutch.

[FreedomTracker]

This may not help your screech problem, but I just saw a YouTube video where baby powder was used on the rubber seals (both inside & out) to prevent sticking to TT sides. Just put some powder on a cloth rag and rub onto the seals all the way around.

Previously, I have used silicon spray to lubricate...

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by FreedomTracker

Previously, I have used silicon spray to lubricate...

Silicon has no staying power (thus the noise).
You want that powdered graphite to bond with the metal.
Spray on a medium to heavy coat and before it dries run the slide in and out a few times (watch the duty cycle on the motor).

Duty cycle on slide motor (my rule of thumb) 1 minute on (or less); 1 minute off (or more); 1 minute On (or less); 1 minute off (or more); 1 minute on (or less); 30 minutes off for cooling.

[pmueller]

Thanks, Lou! The information you provided has been extremely helpful. I may not have a Lippert slide, but the PDF on the Lippert slide mechanism provided some very valuable information. I wonder if I need to have the horizontal and vertical alignment checked on the slide.

Freedom Tracker, thanks for the info on the baby powder for the seals. I had not seen that before!

[SaskCampers]

Our main slide was screeching so bad last summer, I tried everything including graphite to no avail. I ended up using my old standby I use for everything from tractors to toys. Fluid Film, had to spray the slide tubes and the gear/roller assemblies a couple times and move the slide in and out and finally the screeching stopped. I then wiped everything down to clean any excess fluid off and the slide has worked perfect since and btw if you make sure you clean all the excess up right away you will have no dirt accumulation. We live 10 miles out on a dirt road and never get any buildup as long as you keep things clean.

[TexasBBQ]

Originally Posted by herk7769

Not sure how the slides work on the Solera, but my main slides have a tube that rides through the frame and I also spray the gears in the rack clutch.

Herk, My slides are hydraulic but have a very similar grear roller assembly as you pictured. I saw them thru the I beam while under the tralier this weekend doing the slide lube. What do they recommend spraying on the gear aseembly? From what I could see there aught to be a couple bearings on each side of the gear.

[Herk7769]

I use dry lube spray. Basically graphite suspended in alcohol.

[DonG]

pmeuller, make sure your ram is not rubbing on the camper frame as it extends. Mine comes quite close to the edge of the hole that it passes through.