Another slide issue

Blaster 84 · 09-01-2019, 04:54 PM

We are traveling and everything has been operating fine until Thursday evening. The big slide would not work. Although I could extend it manually. We are on shore power.
Friday I found the circuit breaker behind the battery and reset the tab. I really couldn’t tell if it had tripped or not. Still didn’t work.
I accessed the motor to the slide by cutting a hole in black material beneath it. Sorry, I forget the proper name.
I skinned one of the wires to the motor and made contact with it with a multimeter while DW worked the switch on the inside. When attempting to extend the slide or retract the slide via the switch I get a reading on the multimeter indicating the motor is getting the juice, but no movement.
Thinking it might be a dead spot on the motor I took it down and touched a battery with the wire leads. The motor spun without hesitation.
I reinstalled it and now it’s not working.
Now thinking that the motor is jammed or some teeth missing in what would be a gearbox I held me hand on it while again my DW operated the switch. I couldn’t feel or hear any results as if was trying to operate.
I am out ideas.
Does anyone have an idea what else I can try.
Sure would appreciate it.

**bikendan** · 09-01-2019, 06:58 PM

Did you check the 30 amp slideout fuse, that should be along the frame, next to slideout?

bigmurph · 09-01-2019, 08:15 PM

You said you check for power. Did you check to see if you have a ground?

Blaster 84 · 09-01-2019, 08:16 PM

I wasn’t aware I had a fuse just for the slide out. But if that was bad, why would I get an indication of current as tested with a multimeter when ny DW worked the switch.
My wiring doesn’t run in that direction. It appears to run from the slide out motor directly towards the opposite side of the RV as the slide out.
But I’ll take a close look tomorrow, I’m always learning something new about this RV.

Thanks

Blaster 84 · 09-01-2019, 08:27 PM

There is not a separate ground wire. I’m assuming that is grounded through the frame.
There are only two wires that go to the motor.
I am under the impression that depending on the direction of the switch position it would indicate which wire received current.

Am I wrong?

bigmurph · 09-01-2019, 09:33 PM

The switch controls polarity. You need to hook your multimeter to both wires and operate the switch. If your ground is good through the switch then you will show voltage in one direction and negative voltage in the other direction if you dont move your multimeter leads.

**Herk7769** · 09-01-2019, 09:49 PM

If you have power to the motor and it runs when removed, your problem is a locked up gear box. You can try to use the stub shaft to try and free the gears.

Obviously if the gearbox is too bound up to turn, a replacement would be necessary.

The assembly comes in a few "flavors"; low torque, mid torque, and high torque. You would need to contact Lippert with the serial numbers to be sure to order the correct strength motor.

Here is the high torque one:

https://store.lci1.com/gear-motor-as...ue-386327.html

Oh! A post script:

If the reason the gearbox is bound up is because the mounting steel bracket is bent, the repair will require a competent welding shop to straighten and reinforce the mounting bracket. This happened to my old camper and required a visit to the factory to get it repaired.

Blaster 84 · 09-02-2019, 12:10 PM

Thanks guys.
Visiting relatives now but I’ll try this ASAP.
As to Herk’s suggestion. I was hoping that if the gear box was binding I would feel the motor strain or hear it as my DW worked the switch.

Blaster 84 · 09-02-2019, 02:57 PM

Made a trip to RV to check out what bigmurph suggested.
While holding the multimeter leads, one on each wire, my DW push the switch and the slide moved.
The only thing that changed is my moving the wires. At this point I’m speculating that one of the motor wires may be broke in the motor. Also the entry point should be secured and since the motor wouldn’t work in either direction that would indicate both wires are broke. I don’t believe that’s likely.
So problem solved - mystery remains.

Although they look good, I will be reworking the wire connections.

bigmurph · 09-02-2019, 03:40 PM

You wouldn't have to have both wires broken for the motor not to work in either direction. The polarity changes through the switch when you press it in each direction. So if one wire was broken you wouldn't have + in one direction and - in the other direction.

BBogey · 09-02-2019, 06:23 PM

I’m constantly in awe of those with such good mechanical skills - I read this thread but it was WAY over my head!!!

Blaster 84 · 09-02-2019, 07:53 PM

Ok. As noted in my first post in my initial testing I was getting current through the wire irregardless which position the switch was pressed. So I don’t have a broken wire.
Since I don’t feel or hear the motor trying to run I’m don’t believe it’s the gear box.
That is leading me to think it may be a bad spot on the armature or something else internal in the motor wiring.
Does that sounds logical?
We have 8 more weeks of traveling I hope it continues working until we get home.

**Herk7769** · 09-02-2019, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blaster 84

Ok. As noted in my first post in my initial testing I was getting current through the wire irregardless which position the switch was pressed. So I don’t have a broken wire.
Since I don’t feel or hear the motor trying to run I’m don’t believe it’s the gear box.
That is leading me to think it may be a bad spot on the armature or something else internal in the motor wiring.
Does that sounds logical?
We have 8 more weeks of traveling I hope it continues working until we get home.

Use the crank and give it one complete turn (open) and try the electrical switch again. If its a bad spot in the motor, it should run the slide right out.

Remember if the gear box is bound up, the motor will stall and may blow the fuse.

bigmurph · 09-03-2019, 02:03 PM

There is a good chance that the motor has bad spot on it. I would do like Herk suggested.

Blaster 84 · 10-25-2019, 05:49 PM

We returned this week from our travels and began to work on the slide out issue.
After much testing, disassembly, counter testing and retesting it was determined that a 30 amp fuse next to the battery had some corrosion on the contacts.
That is assumed to because the corrosion was not visible. Bur we were only getting 6.5 volts input at the switch and doing some searching we found the fuse. After removing and reinserting the fuse we got 12 volts and the slide motor is working. Now to put everything back together.
Just as we solved the big slide issue, the bedroom slide quit working.
Another challenge; or opportunity.

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