Kwikee step motor

Mooney 78865 · 07-22-2019, 08:30 PM

I have a 2014 GT XL378. The entry steps have begun making a "ratcheting" when they retract. The steps are tagged Kwikee.
They will go up, but with assistance at two different points during retraction. Tonight, I crawled under the coach and got a part number for the motor and did a visual inspection of the fan gear and mounting. The fan gear and attachment points look fine, the center pivot bolt appears to be tight and not showing any play when I grab and work the steps. I am about to order a new motor, but wanted to see if anyone out there had any advice or pointers if I am missing the obvious. Thanks in advance!

Mr. October · 07-23-2019, 03:30 AM

It may be time for a new motor as you have said. Maybe give Kwikee a call though. They have pretty good support. I assume you keep them well lubricated?

rkulbok · 07-23-2019, 05:28 AM

I had the exact same issue this weekend. I ordered a new motor from Amazon. There are also several videos on YouTube showing how to replace the motor. On my rig it looks like the hardest part will be getting a wrench on the nuts to remove the bolts.

Good luck.

Carmel · 07-23-2019, 06:41 AM

Lube lube and lube all the joints also what helped mine was loosening the joint bolts a half a turn or so.

Mooney 78865 · 07-23-2019, 09:20 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm good about lubing the steps, so I'm confident they are in good order there. And I agree it isn't really an expensive, nor difficult task. After reading the issues with the Lippert steps I wanted to see if there may be something I was missing.

ScottBrownstein · 07-23-2019, 09:26 AM

Unfortunately the motor is bolted on from below on my unit. I had disconnect the linkage and remove the subplate. THere are 4 bolts that hold that on and hopefully you will have an easier time than I did after only 1 year. I put never seize on the remaining 3 bolts.

While you are at it, in the future, make sure you try to avoid using the steps when they are not fully deployed. As you can see, when the linkage is partially open a lot of your weight will transfer to the fan gear and then to the nylon gear in the motor...stripping it. I think this is a bigger problem than lubrication, but of course that is easy to do an highly recommended.

Dodge Guy · 07-23-2019, 09:34 AM

Mine aren’t the Kwikee brand, but I did change out my motor. At first it had a clunk when closing. Then all of a sudden the steps wouldn’t go up. The motor would run but the gear wouldn’t move. There is an aluminum gear in the motor assembly that wears and breaks then stops moving. $80 later from Amazon and it’s working fine.

Dodge Guy · 07-23-2019, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottBrownstein

Unfortunately the motor is bolted on from below on my unit. I had disconnect the linkage and remove the subplate. THere are 4 bolts that hold that on and hopefully you will have an easier time than I did after only 1 year. I put never seize on the remaining 3 bolts.

While you are at it, in the future, make sure you try to avoid using the steps when they are not fully deployed. As you can see, when the linkage is partially open a lot of your weight will transfer to the fan gear and then to the nylon gear in the motor...stripping it. I think this is a bigger problem than lubrication, but of course that is easy to do an highly recommended.

Yep, I think that’s what happened to mine. I may have stepped in it thinking it was all the way out, but the gear was going anyway.

BTW, if you watch the movie RV you’ll see the boy step out on to the moving steps. Drives me nuts everytime I see that now!!!

Mooney 78865 · 07-23-2019, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodge Guy

Mine aren’t the Kwikee brand, but I did change out my motor. At first it had a clunk when closing. Then all of a sudden the steps wouldn’t go up. The motor would run but the gear wouldn’t move. There is an aluminum gear in the motor assembly that wears and breaks then stops moving. $80 later from Amazon and it’s working fine.

The motor I just ordered had a metal pinion gear as well. Haven't taken the original one off yet, but it defiantly sounds like the TR6 I was teaching my wife to drive 40 years ago!

Dodge Guy · 07-23-2019, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooney 78865

The motor I just ordered had a metal pinion gear as well. Haven't taken the original one off yet, but it defiantly sounds like the TR6 I was teaching my wife to drive 40 years ago!

LOL! Yes they do make noise! Both of them!!!!

Mooney 78865 · 07-23-2019, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodge Guy

LOL! Yes they do make noise! Both of them!!!!

Right?? LOL! It must have stuck, she's driving a 6 speed Challenger. these days!

EricNJ · 07-23-2019, 10:26 PM

Lube the steps???? Never knew! How and with what???

Mr. October · 07-24-2019, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricNJ

Lube the steps???? Never knew! How and with what???

Hey Eric . . keeping the steps well-lubed is really critical to longevity. Check the manual (or the Kwikee website) but you want to lube all pivot points. There are 4-10 on each side of the steps depending on how many steps you have. You also want to lubricate the moving parts around the motor and the gear teeth if you have them. The best lube is the Kwikee recommended lube.

EricNJ · 07-25-2019, 08:51 PM

Thanks!! I will check it out!

Mooney 78865 · 07-27-2019, 02:19 PM

I received the new motor yesterday, $75.00. Installed this morning before the temps got to the predicted 109 deg! Piece of cake, 4 bolts, 1 nut and 3 screws. Since I have the three step arraignment the motor was bolted to a plate that bolts to the stair mount. Remove plate, install new motor, install plate. Super easy job. Coffee didn't even get cold.
Steps work fantastic, super quiet!

Dodge Guy · 07-28-2019, 07:40 AM

Good to hear. Thanks for the update.

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