Slide Malfunction

January 25, 2010, 07:55:43 pm

My slide "a" is making a banging sound when going out. Sounds like cog alignment is off. Need a slide mechanic near Outdoor Resort Indio.
Any suggestions? I tried calling Freddie G with no response.
Jay and Julia

2006 Inspire 51558
Space #182 ORI

Re: Slide Malfunction

Reply #1 – January 26, 2010, 02:27:14 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 55981

If the gear/track alignment was off the slide would be misaligned when fully open or fully closed - at least that is the easiest time to see it. You can also measure the distance from the slide interior wood flange to the wall on both sides to check this.
However, given the weights involved the likelihood the drive gear has jumped a tooth is pretty slim. It would take a very large force to cause the entire slide to rise up far enough to jump a gear tooth.
All of our slides have made some pretty loud noises at one time or another. It usually goes away with use - in other words the only time we get the loud bangs and pops is after the coach has been sitting for a while.
Power Gear techs looked at our "B" slide a couple years back for the same problem. They checked all the adjusting and assembly bolts and found at least one loose. That helped but it is still common to get some pretty nasty sounding noises from the Power Gear system even when everything is fine.
The other serious possible problem is a sheared bolt in the drive gear. These bolts are designed to fail to protect the rest of the system. If you have ever accidently left something in the way of a closing slide this bolt can shear or at least become damaged - it will eventually fail. When this happens only one end of the slide will move and the bolt must be replaced. I would suggest with some emphasis that you check as many of the shear bolts as you can see - some require removal of an inpsection plate - to make sure they are not going or already gone. The bolt can shear and remain until the pressure on it is off at which point it will fall out.
Camping World and any well stocked camping supply store should have these bolts - I keep two on hand at all times.
They are universal for a large number of Power Gear applications. Do not substitute a standard bolt as this defeats the protection provided by the shearing under stress. Doing so will cause much more expensive damage.

Bob (rthandren@...)
'05 Inspire 51178

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