8285WS Slide Problem

Jimcam22 · 08-27-2011, 02:26 PM

I have a 2011 8285WS and I'm having intermittent problems with the big slide. When I bring it in it won't go out, it just clicks like the gears are not engaging. I had it worked on several times and they loosen the bell stop and readjust it and send me on my way only to have it fail again after some time. I had the motor replaced and that was supposed to be the fix but it wasn't. The slide still sticks in the in position occasionally. I checked the bolts holding the motor and they are tight. I am thinking that the slide may be misaligned.

Any thoughts??

Thanks,
Jim

Jimcam22 · 08-27-2011, 02:37 PM

I just checked under my slide and this is what I found. The first picture is a shot of the bell stop with the slide all the way in. The bell stop has about a 1/4 inch gap at the top. Does this indicate an alignment problem.
The second picture is a shot of the place the bell stop seats with the slide all of the way out.

If anyone has an 8285WS and could check theirs I would greatly appreciate it..

Thanks,
Jim

Hoo Dad · 08-27-2011, 06:06 PM

I'll try and check mine for you tomorrow. I'm on the east coast (thankfully not right on the coast) so you can imagine I will need to wait until Irene gets out of here.

Jimcam22 · 08-27-2011, 09:03 PM

Thanks Hoo Dad. Stay safe...

Nigels · 08-28-2011, 12:22 AM

Your second photo of the slide out looks identical to mine when I saw this I also thought it might be misaligned. Mine also looks as though it grinds against the frame but it does not. I have no problems with the slide, not sure what the tube looks like in, I will have a look tomorow.

Sounds like something is getting stuck maybe the floor, the sound of gear crunching is apparantly the clutch and makes this sound at the end of each in or out to warn you to gret your finger off the switch.

Hoo Dad · 08-28-2011, 08:28 AM

I checked mine with the slide in and it looks just like yours. I ran the slide out with the same result (it looked just like yours). When the slide is retracted IN does the slide appear to be flush against the camper at the front and rear of the slide?

I would call Forest River Monday and explain the situation to their service people. They may have an answer.

Good Luck

Jimcam22 · 08-28-2011, 08:52 AM

The slide appears to be flush front and back when it is pulled in, When it comes all the way in it makes a clunk sound and stops. When it goes out it makes a clicking sound at the end of travel until I take my finger off the switch.
I'm thinking I may have another bad motor assembly. Jamming when fully retracted..

**Herk7769** · 08-28-2011, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimcam22

The slide appears to be flush front and back when it is pulled in, When it comes all the way in it makes a clunk sound and stops. When it goes out it makes a clicking sound at the end of travel until I take my finger off the switch.
I'm thinking I may have another bad motor assembly. Jamming when fully retracted..

This is totally normal. The clunking sound is the nylon drive gears "hopping" on the rack teeth at end of travel in and out. This noise should remind you to get your finger off the switch.

DAISY BOYKIN · 08-30-2011, 07:27 PM

yes mine is the same way, I think it is normal. I did re adjust the "bell stop" . The jam nut came loose on mine. Read the specs for the slide out to adjust the jam nut.

I think you are a-ok.

Sid

Jimcam22 · 08-31-2011, 10:32 AM

Thanks for all of the replies. I call my dealer and spoke to one of the service people and he told me how to adjust the bell stop. It seems to be working OK now. We'll see for sure the next time we travel.

crocus · 08-31-2011, 12:36 PM

Jimcam, could you share the instructions for adjusting the bell stop?

Thanks

Jimcam22 · 08-31-2011, 04:41 PM

My bell stop was adjusted too far in. That caused the bell stop to stop the slide and it would bind occasionally. He told me to let the slide frame be the main stop and the bell stop should be secondary. The bell stop will flex the frame wall on contact about 1/4 inch when fully retracted when it is adjusted correctly. Before I adjusted it the Bell stop would flex the frame about 1/3 inch causing the bind.
It's not an exact adjustment, more like trail and error. If the bell stop is contacting the frame too early and causing the slide to bind then it needs to be backed off a little at a time until it works.
The adjustment is just the opposite of what I thought it would be but it's working now.

Disclamer: Use this procedure at your own risk, it may not work on all slides.

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