HELP!! Living room slide not working

[c0nnd0r]

On our way home from 8 day trip. Living room slide goes out 6 inches and stops with a ratcheting sound. This is in an FR3 30DS. Any suggestions would be appreciated. (We are 2 days from home.) Thanks

[Technorick]

In 2014 models there was a problem where a bad batch of motors had bad sprockets and some would break a tooth. If it's grinding the motor is turning and you have power. I've read that you can human assist by pushing in the room from outside while another person holds down the button. That would get you home. I'd bet you will find its the motor gear tooth. Good luck.

[c0nnd0r]

Thanks Technorick. That is what I think it is too. I failed to mention that the motor will bring the slide in. So at least it's not hanging out, allowing us to still travel. I also failed to mention that this is a 2015 model. I'll post the fix when it happens.

[JerseyGuy]

The gear shears off. I had it happen too.


2014 FR3 30DS In New Jersey

[JerseyGuy]

I opened up the gear box after my dealer replaced the assembly. It is the gear, not the motor that dies.


2014 FR3 30DS In New Jersey

[twojump36]

Dang... I'm leaving for an 8 day trip next Saturday.... I've been dreading to hear the 2015's (like mine) are having this problem too....

[c0nnd0r]

Thanks for the info JerseyGuy and sorry to darken your day twojump36.

[wayne and sherry]

The gears in that photo look like they are made from the cheapest material that forest river could find. I'll bet they spent more money to find the junkyest material than it would have cost to just use a standard material that was already in production.

[wayne and sherry]

Let me ask ya all this... When you drive out your slide or in, when you reach your end point, how much load up are you allowing before you take your finger off the switch? As soon as l hear the motor start to load up l stop!

[dcheatwood]

Happened to my brother. He held the power button while we pushed slide in and out. Managed to get by for the week. Good luck.

[drivmsafe]

Originally Posted by wayne and sherry

The gears in that photo look like they are made from the cheapest material that forest river could find. I'll bet they spent more money to find the junkyest material than it would have cost to just use a standard material that was already in production.

Keep in mind that FR does not make the gears or the motors. Put the blame where it should be... the mfg. Just saying.....


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[Croaker]

They are still responsible for the quality coming from their vendors.

There is a trade-off for lower priced products. Ultimately, it is the customer who demands price over quality.
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[drivmsafe]

Originally Posted by Croaker

They are still responsible for the quality coming from their vendors.

There is a trade-off for lower priced products. Ultimately, it is the customer who demands price over quality.
.
.
.

Sorry. They are only responsible for the replacement if a part goes bad. They, like any other company that rely on outside vendors, can only hope that those they buy from sell them parts that will hold up. If there are too many problems then they should be smart enough to change vendors.


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[VinceU]

Originally Posted by JerseyGuy

The gear shears offAttachment 110705. I had it happen too.


2014 FR3 30DS In New Jersey

The gears appears that they have been overloaded for many cycles. This most likely due to improper lubication or insufficient lube. Since every tooth is involved, it can't be from over stroking with the wall button. And no Forest River does not and cannot cut high strength gear teeth, they are furnished by the Slide mfg. probably of Chinese origin. When gear teeth are that damaged, they can fail any time.

[Fireretiredgfd]

had the same problem with my 2016 FR3 30DS but it was the motor not the gear box. FR sent me a new one and the local mobil repair installed it on warranty.

[twojump36]

Originally Posted by wayne and sherry

Let me ask ya all this... When you drive out your slide or in, when you reach your end point, how much load up are you allowing before you take your finger off the switch? As soon as l hear the motor start to load up l stop!

I was wondering the same thing.... from what I can tell, I can see if you stayed on that button for too long, it might cause the motor to shear off some teeth maybe....
As soon as I hear the motor start to strain, I take my finger off that button. Is there a cut-off switch we could come up with to limit the pull maybe?

[wayne and sherry]

Originally Posted by twojump36

I was wondering the same thing.... from what I can tell, I can see if you stayed on that button for too long, it might cause the motor to shear off some teeth maybe....
As soon as I hear the motor start to strain, I take my finger off that button. Is there a cut-off switch we could come up with to limit the pull maybe?

I feel that both going out and going in as soon as you hear the motor load up get off the button!! Also I help push a little on the way out and up a little on the way in. Any little help is better than none.. I feel.

[twojump36]

Yeah maybe that will help...

[Finch]

We have just encountered the same problem. The slide goes out a couple of inches, pops, slides out another couple of inches, pop, then a third, then stops with a ratcheting sound. We are 2,000 miles from home on an extended vacation. No service available appointments available within 100 miles of usfor at least a week. My question is: Is it safe to put the slider out until it stops or am I chancing additional damage - or even worse, having the slider stuck in the open position? Should I just travel the rest of my trip (or until I can get to a dealer) with the slider closed? Thanks for your help!

[c0nnd0r]

Finch

I wasn't willing to take that chance. So I closed the living room slide and finished the trip without extending it again. It is now at the dealer waiting for a new slide transmission.