Schwintek system - to lube or not to lube

[JimM2109S]

There is a lot of conflicting information whether to lube a Schwintek slide system. I've tried my best to get a definitive answer as my MY2022 camper has a Schwintek slide.

Lippert put out this video seven years ago that shows to lubricate certain parts of the system. However, more recently, literature published by Lippert (Owner's Manual, rev. 4.19.23) states that the system does not require lubrication and in some instances could be detrimental to the system's long term durability (page 11, System Maintenance).

My gut feeling is that moving parts benefit from lubrication. Are they now using materials that truly do not require lubrication? Are they simply worried that over lubrication may lead to a buildup of dust/dirt that admittedly could negatively affect its operation? So what should we owners of a Schwintek system do?

 

[tomupnorth]

My gut feeling is that moving parts benefit from lubrication. Are they now using materials that truly do not require lubrication? Are they simply worried that over lubrication may lead to a buildup of dust/dirt that admittedly could negatively affect its operation? So what should we owners of a Schwintek system do?

Not sure about silicone spray, but most/all lubricants attract dust/dirt so in my understanding: slide-outs exposed to Nature will have their mechanisms defiled in very short order, so keep the "gears" clean and dry. Will be much harder to keep "clean and dry" with any sort of lubricant. And the metal-on-metal contact doesn't occur all that often so no need to worry so much about wear there.

I have the same gut feeling as you about lubing but my other gut feeling that "dirt is really really bad" trumps it.

 

[jimmarako]

Thats why according to the internet experts on forums like this I've switch to a PTFE based dry lubes which are not suppose to attract dirt and grime. Which I do use to spray both my rack and pinon and Scwintek slides, among other things.

Jim M.

 

[escape pod 47]

I would go with Lipperts latest recommendations.

 

[tomupnorth]

I would go with Lipperts latest recommendations.

To wit, from p12 of the Owner's Manual:

"Harsh environments" !!!! Haha yeah like every dirty dusty campground on Planet Earth!

It should be noted that the Lippert video above shows use of PTFE to lube the Coupler and the Gibs where the motor resides, but neither the motor's spur gear nor the gear rack with which the spur gear interacts.

So I'm gonna wanna keep the squiggly gear rack scrupulously clean (with "mild soap and water"), which will hopefully keep the spur gear clean i.e. no risk of abrading either with dirt that could grind-away at either/both over time.

In the end IMO Lippert has not done the best job explaining the above. That video could have easily mentioned why you need to keep the gear rack clean for example.

 

[5picker]

Manufacturers like to cover their a$$.
Couple that with folks that see the word "lube" and they would be smearing gobs of Red & Tacky all over the rack. So to play it safe, the manufacturer says "no lube needed."

But... metal to metal causes wear, especially when the contact points can't be held in strict alignment, such as the case of a Schwintek slide.

For just such cases, I'm a believer in dry lubes with PTFE that apply with an evaporating base of propellant. They leave no sticky residue and add some lubricity to the rack/gear without the mess.

Even with that, those slides have enough inherent issues (controllers/stops/etc.) that I'd never have one.

That's my opinion and it cost you nothing.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

I use a PTFE lube on certain areas of our Schwintek slide system. Using the slide out as stated in the manual is the key to successful and reliable operation.

Always fully extend or retract the system. Continue to hold the IN/OUT switch until the controller disengages the motors. You should hear the relay click. Never partially extend or retract the slide.

Bob

 

[tomupnorth]

Always fully extend or retract the system. Continue to hold the IN/OUT switch until the controller disengages the motors. You should hear the relay click. Never partially extend or retract the slide.

We drove an hour on a very frigid January day up here to look at a camper, and after about a half an hour were ready to buy. Among the few things we were actually able to try was the slide-out (we've never owned an RV with such before). Salesman pushed the button to run it in-and-out and made a point to tell me to "hold till it stops or it can get out-of-sync" or some such. Then I read the same in the manual and everywhere here and I think I've got it despite that we still haven't taken delivery on the bloody thing.

Maybe like "don't lube!" this tip is somewhat counter-intuitive (won't the motor be harmed if you keep trying to run it once it's stopped) so I appreciate hearing it again.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

We drove an hour on a very frigid January day up here to look at a camper, and after about a half an hour were ready to buy. Among the few things we were actually able to try was the slide-out (we've never owned an RV with such before). Salesman pushed the button to run it in-and-out and made a point to tell me to "hold till it stops or it can get out-of-sync" or some such. Then I read the same in the manual and everywhere here and I think I've got it despite that we still haven't taken delivery on the bloody thing.

Maybe like "don't lube!" this tip is somewhat counter-intuitive (won't the motor be harmed if you keep trying to run it once it's stopped) so I appreciate hearing it again.

The controller gets a signal from each motor that indicates the motor rotation and direction. The controller also measures the current demand of each motor as well as the voltage supplied to each motor.

NO... the motor won't be harmed by the "hold the switch until the motors are shut off by the controller" procedure. Failure to do this every time will likely cause the motors to get out of sync. Always fully extend and fully retract the slide.

Bob

 

[tomupnorth]

Well I hope the controllers are fail-safe then.

I'm old enough to remember instead physical limit switches.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

Well I hope the controllers are fail-safe then.

I'm old enough to remember instead physical limit switches.

YUCK, talking about unreliable. Yep, prone to physical location, mechanical moving parts, and electrical issues. I'll stick to the solid-state systems controlling 2 motors in synchronous operation.

You'd probably prefer breaker points in a vehicle distributor.

Bob