Through Frame Slide Question

[Popga]

My thru-frame slide on passenger side has begun to act up. When fully extended, or fully retracted, the motor make a thunk, thunk, thunk thunk ratchet noise. I'm guessing that lets you know when its all the way in or out and hopefully is normal. What just started happening is, when I first try to extend the slide, The motor makes a higher-pitched thunk thunk thunk sound and the slide does not move. When I then activate the "slide in" switch, it makes the lower pitched ratchet noise, and I can then get it to extend with no issue. Also, it works normally for several hours after doing this, but the next day, I have to to the same procedure all over. Anyone familiar? I will post a video from my phone.

Erik

[Popga]

Well…couldn’t figure out how to post a video.

[Country Campers]

Popga

There is a "can" on the end of the drive shaft for the slide, this will be on the outside of the frame under the slide, gold color, check to see if this is making contact with the frame. This can stops the inward motion, if it does not stop the inward motion the screw can contact the motor and possibly lock itself. I think we had this issue before somewhere here but we could not figure out why the slide did not work. I got the actuator from the owner and could not figure anything else besides the stop can was not in the proper place. Also you do not want to run the motor too much when hearing the clunk sound, a few clunks and then stop. I watch the slide and generally stop before in contacts the wall and then continue until I hear the first clunk.

Brian

[Popga]

howson
Maybe I should have started a new out for a question like this?

Erik

[ncitro]

howson
Maybe I should have started a new out for a question like this?

Erik

No problem, I moved it for you.

[Popga]

Country Campers

I just checked the can and it is stopping right up against the frame...

Erik

[familytruckster4]

This video is very well done and shows the possible adjustments.
https://www.google.com/search?q=lipp...s0PEPl4Wa6A430

I would caution that slide adjustments can be a rabbit hole and I have seen people actually make the problem worse despite their best efforts.

[JBill9694]

Our through frame slides do not "thunk" at all. I would probably start with determining what is thunking and why.

[Cate&Rob]

JBill9694
Hi John,

The clunking/thunking is the slide drive torque release. This normally happens when a through-frame slide reaches end of travel either inward or outward.

Rob

[JBill9694]

All I can say, Cate&Rob , is that I don't hear a thunk on our slides. Very smooth operation (Of course now that I wrote this . . ..)

Also, if I read Popga op correctly, it is a repetitive thunking. To me that sounds like something is slipping but I don't know what that could be. I'm assuming Popga's slides are hydraulic, like mine. There is a cogged rail on each slide that I've always assumed was for stability and alignment, not for actually moving the slide. Maybe my understanding of how the slide works needs some refinement?

[Country Campers]

John,

The op's slide is not hydraulic.

Brian

[Cate&Rob]

JBill9694
Hi John,

Good point that you will not hear electric clutch release on a hydraulic slide . . . duh . . . I should have thought of that!
On a correctly operating electrically driven slide the "clunking" should only happen at end of travel (in either direction). If this happens mid travel, something is binding and causing the drive motor clutch to release. The rack and pinion system on either electric or hydraulic through frame slides is for alignment. Either system has a single drive mechanism.

Rob

[Popga]

Update...I spent the time and went thru the Lippert tech school on slides. Very informative and I'd recommend it to anyone for a basic working knowledge. It did not, however address my issue. I called Lippert technical support next. They are incredibly responsive and helpful. Never hesitate to call them. The tech thinks maybe the "can" is set too close the frame when slide is closed and causing a slight bindup which is fixed when I go in, then back out. He gave me the steps to adjust the can. He also recommended cleaning the seals with soapy water, then, when dry, applying dry silicone lubricant, then wiping off excess, as the horrible pollen that fell this spring may have made the seals sticky. Since the month of rain has finally ended (think Seattle) I.m going to give it a try and will report back.
Thanks for all the input. Everyone had ideas that were pointing in the right direction (an uncommon direction in my area)

Erik

[Stewks]

I am having this exact same problem and wondering what the end result was after you made the adjustment. Did this cure the problem, or did mechanism require repair?

2021 Reflection 303rls

[Popga]

Stewks
Apologies for not updating sooner...and Stewks, I missed your query. Adjusting the can solved all my issues. After adjusting the can, and trying using the slider successfully for several days, I scrubbed the rubber seals, which were caked with pollen. I still need to coat them with a dry silicone lube (which is not easy to find, Lippert tech said "quick dying WD-40 specialist silicone" works fine.