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step squeek revisited-long

Yahoo Message Number: 19257
Fixed the step squeek today so here's the update. As noted in previous posts the cuprit is (are) two bolts with rubber baby-bumper heads. Actually there are four such animals---two in the back (inboard) which the step bumps up against when retracted. Also two that bump up against the bottom step when extended. These bumpers engage the lower step flat (the piece where you place your foot) on the inside edge of this flat piece of steel. They engage this steel edge with enough force(pressure) that the two rubber bumpers were actually sliced in two, crosswise. It seems that the actuator arm that pushes the step out is just a tad too long. Actually this actuator arm is mounted with a bolt and nut on either end and thus my conclusion is that these mounting holes in the arm are just a tad too far apart. The proof was---I unbolted the actuator arm at both ends with the step extended and found that I had to drive the second bolt out because it was so tight. When bolting the arm back in place the first bolt when in very easily since the other end was loose but the second bolt was very tough. In fact the hole in the arm did not line up with the hole in the step by almost 1/4 inch. Had to really force the step out further than the bumpers wanted to allow in order to line the holes up. Conclusion--the new rubber baby-bumpers won't last long.
Too much pressure on them. Sorry this is long but wanted to provide as much clarity as possible. Hope it makes sense.

Lyle Wetherholt
04 Intrigue 11740

Re: step squeek revisited-long

Reply #1
Yahoo Message Number: 19262
Don't know yet what kind of problems I will have in the future, but I merely removed the two sqeeky bolts and it doesn't squeek anymore. Didn't see that the step was bottoming out on anything.
Looked like the actuator arm limited the distance the step was allowed to travel. I'll probably reinstall them after I find some rubber stoppers. Also noticed I have two hole positions (upper or lower)to choose from to install the bumpers. I'll try the upper holes next time. They look like they wouldn't wear out the rubber stop as easy because the rubber stop will rest on a flat surface as apposed to a sharp edge like they do on the lower hole.

Larry 30856
uh

Quote from: Lyle Wetherholt
>

Fixed the step squeek today so here's the update. As noted in > previous posts the cuprit is (are) two bolts with rubber baby-

bumper

Quote
heads. Actually there are four such animals---two in the back > (inboard) which the step bumps up against when retracted. Also two > that bump up against the bottom step when extended. These bumpers > engage the lower step flat (the piece where you place your foot) on > the inside edge of this flat piece of steel. They engage this

steel

Quote
edge with enough force(pressure) that the two rubber bumpers were > actually sliced in two, crosswise. It seems that the actuator arm > that pushes the step out is just a tad too long. Actually this > actuator arm is mounted with a bolt and nut on either end and thus

my

Quote
conclusion is that these mounting holes in the arm are just a tad

too

Quote
far apart. The proof was---I unbolted the actuator arm at both

ends

Quote
with the step extended and found that I had to drive the second

bolt

Quote
out because it was so tight. When bolting the arm back in place

the

Quote
first bolt when in very easily since the other end was loose but

the

Quote
second bolt was very tough. In fact the hole in the arm did not

line

Quote
up with the hole in the step by almost 1/4 inch. Had to really

force

Quote
the step out further than the bumpers wanted to allow in order to

line

Quote
the holes up. Conclusion--the new rubber baby-bumpers won't last

long.

Quote
Too much pressure on them. Sorry this is long but wanted to

provide

Re: step squeek revisited-long

Reply #2
Yahoo Message Number: 19264
Hi Lyle; That's exactly why I decided to use teflon pads instead of the rubber pads. They don't squeek, they last much longer than the rubber and the step is held nice and solid when extended.

Regards,
Bob Kumza
2003 Intrigue

Quote from: Lyle Wetherholt
>

Fixed the step squeek today so here's the update. As noted in > previous posts the cuprit is (are) two bolts with rubber baby-

bumper

Quote
heads. Actually there are four such animals---two in the back > (inboard) which the step bumps up against when retracted. Also two > that bump up against the bottom step when extended. These bumpers > engage the lower step flat (the piece where you place your foot) on > the inside edge of this flat piece of steel. They engage this

steel

Quote
edge with enough force(pressure) that the two rubber bumpers were > actually sliced in two, crosswise. It seems that the actuator arm > that pushes the step out is just a tad too long. Actually this > actuator arm is mounted with a bolt and nut on either end and thus

my

Quote
conclusion is that these mounting holes in the arm are just a tad

too

Quote
far apart. The proof was---I unbolted the actuator arm at both

ends

Quote
with the step extended and found that I had to drive the second

bolt

Quote
out because it was so tight. When bolting the arm back in place

the

Quote
first bolt when in very easily since the other end was loose but

the

Quote
second bolt was very tough. In fact the hole in the arm did not

line

Quote
up with the hole in the step by almost 1/4 inch. Had to really

force

Quote
the step out further than the bumpers wanted to allow in order to

line

Quote
the holes up. Conclusion--the new rubber baby-bumpers won't last

long.

Quote
Too much pressure on them. Sorry this is long but wanted to

provide

Re: step squeek revisited-long

Reply #3
Yahoo Message Number: 19267
Quote from: rvrobert2003"
r />]
Bob,

Thanks for the input. Your "fix" is indeed interesting. Please describe the configuration of your teflon pads and how you secured then to----What?

Lyle Wetherholt
04 Intrigue 11740

Re: step squeek revisited-long

Reply #4
Yahoo Message Number: 19268
Quote from: Larry Feather"
r />]
Larry,

Question---with the bolts removed does the bottom step feel secure or does it tend to move in and out just a bit? Also, I can"t quite see why the bumpers would hit a vertically flat surface if you move ot the upper hole. By my observation there is no flat surface there, just the raw edge of the bottom step. Comment?

Lyle Wetherholt
04 Intrigue 11740
'

Re: step squeek revisited-long

Reply #5
Yahoo Message Number: 19270
Lyle

The bottom step is solid. Won't budge in or out with the stops removed. It's secured by the actuator. When the stops are in the bottom hole they hit the bottom horizontal lip/edge of the bottom step (as you know). If you install them in the top hole they will hit the flat vertical wall of the bottom step. You will need a thicker bumper though. Maybe half inch or so. But I'm still wondering why I need them.

Larry #30856

Quote from: Lyle Wetherholt
>

Quote from: Larry Feather"

Larry,

Question---with the bolts removed does the bottom step feel secure [/quote
feel secure

or

Quote
does it tend to move in and out just a bit? Also, I can"t quite

see

Quote
why the bumpers would hit a vertically flat surface if you move ot

the

Quote
upper hole. By my observation there is no flat surface there, just > the raw edge of the bottom step. Comment? > Lyle Wetherholt
04 Intrigue 11740

'
>

> Don't know yet what kind of problems I will have in the future,

but

Quote
I merely removed the two sqeeky bolts and it doesn't squeek > > anymore. Didn't see that the step was bottoming out on

anything.

Quote
Looked like the actuator arm limited the distance the step was > > allowed to travel. I'll probably reinstall them after I find

some

Quote
rubber stoppers. Also noticed I have two hole positions (upper

or

Quote
lower)to choose from to install the bumpers. I'll try the upper > > holes next time. They look like they wouldn't wear out the

rubber

Quote
stop as easy because the rubber stop will rest on a flat surface

as

Quote
apposed to a sharp edge like they do on the lower hole.
>

> Larry 30856
>
> uh

[quote author=Lyle Wetherholt"
>]
> >

> > Fixed the step squeek today so here's the update. As noted in > > > previous posts the cuprit is (are) two bolts with rubber baby- > > bumper

> > heads. Actually there are four such animals---two in the back > > > (inboard) which the step bumps up against when retracted.

Also two

Quote
> that bump up against the bottom step when extended. These

bumpers

Quote
> engage the lower step flat (the piece where you place your

foot) on

Quote
> the inside edge of this flat piece of steel. They engage this > > steel

> > edge with enough force(pressure) that the two rubber bumpers

were

Quote
> actually sliced in two, crosswise. It seems that the actuator

arm

Quote
> that pushes the step out is just a tad too long. Actually this > > > actuator arm is mounted with a bolt and nut on either end and

thus

Quote
my

> > conclusion is that these mounting holes in the arm are just a

tad

Quote
too

> > far apart. The proof was---I unbolted the actuator arm at

both

Quote
ends

> > with the step extended and found that I had to drive the

second

Quote
bolt

> > out because it was so tight. When bolting the arm back in

place

Quote
the

> > first bolt when in very easily since the other end was loose

but

Quote
the

> > second bolt was very tough. In fact the hole in the arm did

not

Quote
line

> > up with the hole in the step by almost 1/4 inch. Had to

really

Quote
force

> > the step out further than the bumpers wanted to allow in order

to

Quote
line

> > the holes up. Conclusion--the new rubber baby-bumpers won't

last

Re: step squeek revisited-long

Reply #6
Yahoo Message Number: 19298
Quote from: Larry Feather"
r />]
Larry,

Of course you are right. Upon re-examining my finished job I find my mistakes. The bolts supplied by Kwikee were very long and each had a jamb nut up next to the bumber. Thus you could merely adjust the length that the bolt penetrated the mounting plate while using the upper holes. This would bring the bumper in contact with the vertical plate. Not knowing this I cut the ends of the bolts off to size them for the lower holes. Interestingly, I had talked to Kwikee and they did not make any suggestion about the second hole, the bolt lengths, or the abiltiy to adjust where the bumpers hit. I think they did it wrong and I blindly followed in their footsteps. Next time I will do it right but the current fix should last for some time.

Lyle Wetherholt
04 Intrigue 11740

 

Re: step squeek revisited-long

Reply #7
Yahoo Message Number: 19301
Lyle

Yes, I forgot about the jam nut adjustment. Also, upon further investigation, I noticed that even though the bottom step won't move in our out, it will move left to right (sort of). I can grab the foward edge of the bottom step and it will move in or out a bit while the aft edge moves in the opposite direction. It sort of rotates around its center a bit. As soon as I find some rubber or teflon stops, I'm going to put the bolts back in. I think you are right. Kwiki did it wrong by putting the bolts in the bottom holes.

Larry #30856

Quote from: Lyle Wetherholt
>

Quote from: Larry Feather"

Larry,

Of course you are right. Upon re-examining my finished job I find [/quote
job I find

my

Quote
mistakes. The bolts supplied by Kwikee were very long and each

had a

Quote
jamb nut up next to the bumber. Thus you could merely adjust the > length that the bolt penetrated the mounting plate while using the > upper holes. This would bring the bumper in contact with the

vertical

Quote
plate. Not knowing this I cut the ends of the bolts off to size

them

Quote
for the lower holes. Interestingly, I had talked to Kwikee and

they

Quote
did not make any suggestion about the second hole, the bolt

lengths,

Quote
or the abiltiy to adjust where the bumpers hit. I think they did

it

Quote
wrong and I blindly followed in their footsteps. Next time I will

do

Quote
it right but the current fix should last for some time.
Lyle Wetherholt
04 Intrigue 11740
> Lyle
>

> The bottom step is solid. Won't budge in or out with the stops > > removed. It's secured by the actuator. When the stops are in

the

Quote
bottom hole they hit the bottom horizontal lip/edge of the

bottom

Quote
step (as you know). If you install them in the top hole they

will

Quote
hit the flat vertical wall of the bottom step. You will need a > > thicker bumper though. Maybe half inch or so. But I'm still > > wondering why I need them.
>

> Larry #30856
>
>
>

[quote author=Lyle Wetherholt"
>]
> >
> >

[quote author=Larry Feather"
> >]
> > Larry,

> > Question---with the bolts removed does the bottom step feel

secure

Quote
or

> > does it tend to move in and out just a bit? Also, I can"t

quite

Quote
see

> > why the bumpers would hit a vertically flat surface if you

move ot

Quote
the

> > upper hole. By my observation there is no flat surface there,

just

Quote
> the raw edge of the bottom step. Comment? > > > Lyle Wetherholt
> > 04 Intrigue 11740
> >
> > '
> > >

> > > Don't know yet what kind of problems I will have in the

future,

Quote
but

> > > I merely removed the two sqeeky bolts and it doesn't squeek > > > > anymore. Didn't see that the step was bottoming out on > > anything.

> > > Looked like the actuator arm limited the distance the step

was

Quote
> > allowed to travel. I'll probably reinstall them after I

find

Quote
some

> > > rubber stoppers. Also noticed I have two hole positions

(upper

Quote
or

> > > lower)to choose from to install the bumpers. I'll try the

upper

Quote
> > holes next time. They look like they wouldn't wear out the > > rubber

> > > stop as easy because the rubber stop will rest on a flat

surface

Quote
as

> > > apposed to a sharp edge like they do on the lower hole.
> > >

> > > Larry 30856
> > >
> > > uh

Quote from: Lyle[/quote

Wetherholt"

Quote
> >]
> > > >

> > > > Fixed the step squeek today so here's the update. As

noted in

Quote
> > > previous posts the cuprit is (are) two bolts with rubber

baby-

Quote
> > bumper

> > > > heads. Actually there are four such animals---two in the

back

Quote
> > > (inboard) which the step bumps up against when retracted.
> Also two

> > > > that bump up against the bottom step when extended. These > > bumpers

> > > > engage the lower step flat (the piece where you place your > > foot) on

> > > > the inside edge of this flat piece of steel. They engage

this

Quote
> > steel

> > > > edge with enough force(pressure) that the two rubber

bumpers

Quote
were

> > > > actually sliced in two, crosswise. It seems that the

actuator

Quote
arm

> > > > that pushes the step out is just a tad too long. Actually

this

Quote
> > > actuator arm is mounted with a bolt and nut on either end

and

Quote
thus
> > > my

> > > > conclusion is that these mounting holes in the arm are

just a

Quote
tad
> > > too

> > > > far apart. The proof was---I unbolted the actuator arm at > > both
> > > ends

> > > > with the step extended and found that I had to drive the > > second
> > > bolt

> > > > out because it was so tight. When bolting the arm back in > > place
> > > the

> > > > first bolt when in very easily since the other end was

loose

Quote
but
> > > the

> > > > second bolt was very tough. In fact the hole in the arm

did

Quote
not
> > > line

> > > > up with the hole in the step by almost 1/4 inch. Had to > > really
> > > force

> > > > the step out further than the bumpers wanted to allow in

order

Quote
to
> > > line

> > > > the holes up. Conclusion--the new rubber baby-bumpers

won't

Quote
last
> > > long.

> > > > Too much pressure on them. Sorry this is long but wanted

to