Hydraulic Slides not retracting

nhsanders55 · 04-04-2019, 06:44 AM

We have a 2015 Forest River Blue Ridge 3125. It has 3 slides that operate off 1 switch and the system is hydraulic. The problem is that the slides will not retract. It was working fine and we had the slides open for a week as we were getting ready for our first trip of the season. There is plenty of fluid in the reservoir and no leaks. The pump seems to be working. The self leveling system is working. Anyone have any ideas?

AquaMan · 04-04-2019, 07:48 AM

When you push the button, does anything happen? Any sound from the pump? If not, check for a breaker on the wall near the pump. It should have a little button on the side that may need to be pushed back in to reset. If the pump is making noise (going in or out), then it could be the valve solenoid. Check to see if it has voltage.

CHICKDOE · 04-04-2019, 08:37 AM

sounds like i lippert hydraulic system that runs the legs and the slides. am i correct that you can use the system to extend and retract the legs but it will not retract the slides? this would be a solenoid or control valve in the hydraulic lines. if legs are operating the pump in running and making hydraulic pressure. one pump powers both the legs and the slides. there has to be a control valve in the hydraulic lines that directs the pressure to either the legs or the slides. this control valve would get its instructions (open or close) via a wire from the control board. there are several fuses on the control board. you might want to pull them and check them. hopefully it is just a fuse. or a wire could have come loose. or of course, the valve could have failed.

NMWildcat · 04-04-2019, 09:06 AM

We have a similar setup. There is a fuse in our main fuse block that will blow if the batteries are too low. It is only for the slides. There is also a resettable fuse near the hydraulic pump that is for the slides. My bet is a fuse, perhaps combined with low batteries.

ADFitzke · 04-04-2019, 12:31 PM

Are you sure about the fluid level? With the levelers down and slide outs extended that can use significant volume. Do the levelers come up? If so fluid isn’t the issue.

nhsanders55 · 04-04-2019, 06:16 PM

The pump is working. The self leveling system is working perfectly. I was able to push the bedroom slide in about 12”. Then pushed the switch to open and it also moved outward. I’m wondering if it may be the solenoid isn’t working in the closed position.

nhsanders55 · 04-04-2019, 06:17 PM

The fluid level should be ok. And I even added a quart just to be sure. And the self leveling system is working perfectly.

CHICKDOE · 04-04-2019, 08:01 PM

this is just a stupid thought but i thought of it when you said you added fluid. by any chance is there a leak in the hoses that would get pressurized when you try to move the sides in? are you just pumping fluid out a leak so it is not moving the cylinder. again, just a thought?

nhsanders55 · 04-05-2019, 06:28 AM

No sir. I’ve checked and there aren’t any leaks.

nhsanders55 · 04-05-2019, 06:31 AM

I’ve checked all fuses. I even went ahead and replaced all fuses just to be sure. I checked the resettable breaker. My bet is it’s either a solenoid or a bad valve. Going to check them today.

fonzie · 04-05-2019, 06:44 AM

While the close button is being depressed and pump is running, try to press the end of the close solenoid to manually close the slide. The close solenoid might not be getting power or is defective.

Dan50 · 04-05-2019, 09:22 AM

Did you add the qt of fluid with all legs up and all slides in? If not then you are most likely overfull and fluid will be pushed out of the reservoir when all is closed up. Fluid should only be added with everything retracted. Just an FYI.

nhsanders55 · 04-07-2019, 05:49 AM

Thank you. I will try that today.

LindaNTom · 04-08-2019, 09:39 AM

I have a 2016 Cedar Creek and had the same problem a couple of weeks ago and mine has a control board that went bad. From what I can figure out the control board is for the remote control to work. Mine has a Alta on the control board. I have a solenoid box close to the pump and there was a white wire and red/white wire plugged into the solenoid to the control board that I swapped to get the slides back in until I could order a new control board.
You might want to see if yours has anything like that

Pipeliner · 04-23-2019, 11:38 AM

I am having the same problem on my 2013 Cedar Creek. I have 3 Lippert controlled slides. Where might I find a system control diagram showing solenoid location, voltage, and when voltage should be present.

LindaNTom · 04-23-2019, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pipeliner

I am having the same problem on my 2013 Cedar Creek. I have 3 Lippert controlled slides. Where might I find a system control diagram showing solenoid location, voltage, and when voltage should be present.

Here is a pic where my soleniod is at. Right behind the white switch. I do not have any scematic or voltage info right now. This is on a 2016 CC 34RL

Sent from my SM-G900V using Forest River Forums mobile app

LindaNTom · 04-23-2019, 01:48 PM

Try again on pics

Pipeliner · 04-23-2019, 04:56 PM

I got the slides in. The solenoids controlling slides and jacks were labeled wrong. You can manually open them with a 5/32 Allen wrench. On the bottom of the solenoid. Opened it and the slides functioned properly.

BandJCarm · 04-23-2019, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhsanders55

No sir. I’ve checked and there aren’t any leaks.

My slides fell out in transit, failed to deploy, and failed to go out, for 2 years.

It WAS a leak in ALL THREE RAMS. But not any loss of fluid that I could see in the reservoir, nor any visible signs of a leak. But enough to cause the problems. Only by replacing all 3 rams did the problem go away.

Rare, I know, and probably not the same as yours. But just a thought.....leaks are not always visible.

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