Slide-out motor drip pans?

[Vet4jdc]

Can anyone provide information on where I can order the drip pans for leaking slideout motors?

(Keystone's fix)

[JRTJH]

I don't think there is any specific "brand/model" drip pan. Most people have been using the aluminum disposable 8"x5" loaf pans and nylon zip ties to hold them in place.

[Bingo 57]

Got mine at Wally World. 3 for under a buck. works grate.
Jim

[sandy43]

I never heard of a slide out motor dripping, much less a plan to catch the drippings. Is this some thing new? What's dripping and why?

[JRTJH]

I never heard of a slide out motor dripping, much less a plan to catch the drippings. Is this some thing new? What's dripping and why?

Here's a start: http://www.keystoneforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35809&highlight=slide+roof You can do a forum search and find several more threads discussing the problem.

Here is another thread with a few photos: http://www.keystoneforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35486&highlight=drip

[BAK]

I had my slide roof replaced due to a leaking motor last month. I pulled the part number for the drip tray off the repair order and picked another one up for the bedroom slide. When I get home tonight, I'll grab the part number off of the tray. It was less then $10.

[slow]

How is the drip pan held to the motor or gear box? Zip ties? Picture?

[BAK]

It's actually a nicely formed drip pan that has an upper tab that is slotted where your gear motor mounting bolts go through. Tab fits up behind the gear motor and wall. I will upload some pics as well as the part number.

Apparently this is a bigger issue then we think since the dealer had about half a dozen of these drip pans in stock. Luckily Keystone had no issues authorizing the replacement of the slide roof membrane. My only complaint is that my dealer installed a lighter color roof versus the darker tan that was originally on my Cougar.

[slow]

The picture and part number would be appreciated.

[Tinner12002]

I had my slide roof replaced due to a leaking motor last month. I pulled the part number for the drip tray off the repair order and picked another one up for the bedroom slide. When I get home tonight, I'll grab the part number off of the tray. It was less then $10.

I find it hard to think that Keystone wouldn't have put a drain pan on all your slide motors whether they were leaking or not if they had already replaced a roof, if for no other reason, just as an ounce of prevention! They are suppling them and installing them for free last I had heard.

[BAK]

I find it hard to think that Keystone wouldn't have put a drain pan on all your slide motors whether they were leaking or not if they had already replaced a roof, if for no other reason, just as an ounce of prevention! They are suppling them and installing them for free last I had heard.

I agree! You would think so since it's a whole lot cheaper then replacing the roof membrane. Unfortunately they didn't offer to install one on the bedroom slide though... and since my dealer is 260 miles away and I sure don't want to take it back again to have the bedroom slide membrane replaced if that motor started leaking I figured I would just buy one and install it myself.

[BAK]

Here is the part number of the drip tray:

580894 cost shown on the parts sticker was $4.99


Now I'm not sure if that's a Keystone part number or my dealers, but I bought it from Bob Hurley RV in Tulsa, OK.


I was able to find it at Trekwood.com as well....

http://www.trekwood.com/products.php?product_id=1269231


http://www.trekwood.com/images/keystone/580894.jpg


Also, it appears that the Keystone part number is actually 580894. When you add the drip tray to the order basket it lists that same number.

[slow]

Thanks for the detailed info and link.

[Vet4jdc]

I called Norco today and they are shipping me drip pans for three slides free of charge. If you want them, call Michelle at 574-596-8277.

[jayhancock]

I just had my slide roof replaced and drip pan installed at Holiday World Mesquite, TX. Trailer was just out of factory warranty but Keystone took care of it. I will shoot a picture of the pan they installed next time I get to the camper, maybe later today.

[moodman]

My 2018 Montana with 5 slides had this issue. What happened is that Keystone got slide motor gear boxes from a supplier that changed the seal on the gear box. The old seal worked just dine. I am not sure why they changed it.
In any case, the oil in the gearbox was filled just slightly higher than the shaft where it comes out of the box. This excess oil leaked out through the newly redesigned seal and dripped out.
It wasn't so much that the oil dripped, but that it caused the roof membrane to break down, bubble up, and get soft. I tried by mopping up the oil, and thought maybe the cleaned up membrane would dry out and go back in place. It didn't.
So, when I complained to CW where I bought it, they weren't aware of the problem until they called Keystone. Keystone acknowledged the problem. In fact, they had a "fix" for it which were these "drain pans".
It didn't really fix the problem so much as it prevented the oil from dripping on the roof. So the dealer put the pans on the five slides and no more dripping.
But naturally, the bubbled up roof continued to be a problem. The dealer said they were waiting on approval from Keystone to replace the roof, and they had my RV for two months at that point. So I said "Why don't you just cut out the damaged portion and put Eternabond on there. They said "Yeah"
So, I got my camper back with Eternabond patches on the damaged spots.
I am not super pleased with the fix, since it isn't really like new. But, OTOH, functionally it is the same as a new roof. And, you will never see it unless you deliberately crawl up there to see. In fact, I would never have known it was an issue shortly after I bought it unless I had inspected that area out of curiosity about how the slide motor works!
Bottom line lesson here is that if you have a Keystone camper, get up and inspect those slide motors. If its leaking, get a drip pan minimum. If in warranty, insist that the factory pay for the pans. If not, make your own pans, and you can fix any roof damage like I did.

[JRTJH]

My only concern with using Eternabond tape on the slide roof is the wiper seals. Every time you extend/retract the slide, the wiper seals "wipe/scrape" across the taped area. It may last "forever" and then again, the wiper seals may drag on the tape and pull the edges up. If that happens, it may worsen with every slide operation. While I have no experience to say it "will/won't" happen, I'd prefer my slides have no tape on the surfaces where the wipers make contact.

I'd urge you to "stay nosey" and watch the Eternabond, just to stay ahead of any possibility. It may never happen, then again.....

[sandy43]

I have one electric slide and two hydraulic slides. Where are these slide motors mounted? How do I actually look at the motors to see If their is a oil leak problem. The top of the slides look good, so I assume theirs no leakage. I really want to see the motors to verify no leaks. This topic is completely new to me. Thanks

[Arvis]

We just called our dealer and he told us he was aware of this problem. They ordered the little SS drip pan and had it shipped directly to our home. I installed it in about ten min.The cost was zero, Keystone took care of it.

[sandy43]

I'm still wanting to know where these slide motors are located. Are they above the slide or under it? How do you get to them? Again, this topic is new to me. I'm a belt and suspenders kind of guy. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Thanks

[chuckster57]

I'm still wanting to know where these slide motors are located. Are they above the slide or under it? How do you get to them? Again, this topic is new to me. I'm a belt and suspenders kind of guy. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Thanks



These pans are being used under the motors of cable driven slides. The motor is located above the slide in the center.

[sandy43]

chuckster57, thanks for replying. I have 2 hydraulic slides and 1 electric slide, no cables. So, do I not have this potential problem?

[chuckster57]

No you don’t!

[sandy43]

Many Thanks.

[naswat]

I have a 2018 Fuzion and had the same issue. Seems like hydraulic fluid drips down from the motor on the membrane and totally wrinkles it up. I was unable to look underneath the spill to see if it damaged the roof structure under the membrane. Your dealer has a lot to do with how it is repaired and the relationship they have with Keystone. I have been fighting with them for months now.

[chuckster57]

I have a 2018 Fuzion and had the same issue. Seems like hydraulic fluid drips down from the motor on the membrane and totally wrinkles it up. I was unable to look underneath the spill to see if it damaged the roof structure under the membrane. Your dealer has a lot to do with how it is repaired and the relationship they have with Keystone. I have been fighting with them for months now.



If your slide(s) are hydraulic, the lines and actuating piston is underneath the floor, do hydraulic fluid can’t drip onto the roof membrane. These drip pans are for electric motors/gearboxes used on cable actuated slides.

[opienva1]

I jut checked my 2 slides tonight on my Impact 311 that I got in June. Yep leaking. What can I clean the oil up with? I’ll put the pans on myself. It is only wrinkled on the slide at the interior most side.

[MarkEHansen]

If I were you, I would take it in for warranty repair. I think the slide roof will need to be replaced/repaired. It may be easier to get this done if the dealer can see the motor actually leaking. JMHO.

[moodman]

My 2018 with 5 slides leaked on all five. It bubbled up on all of them.
Solution? Technicians cut out the bubbled roof (not repairable) section and replaced it with Eternabond that was beveled at the edges so it would slide under the rubber outer seals without damaging them. Make sure they do that part of the repair for sure, not just slap a piece of Eternabond on it. The tape HAS to be beveled!
An entire slide roof replacement, while nice, really isn't necessary. But hey, if your dealer will do it, by all means! I believe the drip pans are a poor fix, but as it was explained to me, the oil in the gearboxes, after leaking, reaches a level where they don't leak anymore because the oil inside is beneath the o-ring seal that seals the shaft coming out of the gearbox.
It was further explained that the reason they are leaking is because their supplier who makes the gearboxes changed the original design and used a different sealing method and/or inferior parts. That, combined with the particular oil used inside is what causes them to leak. No doubt this has been addressed internally at Keystone with their supplier (I hope so anyway!)
I used to work at a manufacturer that made air conditioners. The supplier that made rubber belts for a fan used inferior material that stretched. EVERY customer that bought these units had failures. My company had to send out teams to the customers, since the units were permanently mounted, take them apart and put on the correct belts. It cost the company millions of $$$.
You can bet this is costing Keystone. Of course they don't want to spend more than they have to. But a warranty is a warranty, so you need to be satisfied with whatever repair is done on your unit. I am OK with the Eternabond, but I could have insisted on a new roof. That would have taken more time than was acceptable to me. Your patience may be different! Good luck!!

[chuckster57]

What did they do to “bevel” the edge of the eternabond? Just asking....

[toolscott]

My new 2019 Cougar half ton 25res has drip pans on gear box's on both slides.

[jayhancock]

Good to know they acknowledged the problem, what a PITA it was. Make sure to flood test everything after a couple of trips, we had the kitchen sink line come loose at top of gray and a black flush line leak develop at top of black tank. Thank god I bought extended warranty.

[rsv4pilot]

Drip pan installed..

21529


Putting this post together took longer then installing the drip pan.

While I was back there I added a few screws to the inside seal, the left side of the seal on the wardrobe slide had pulled away from the wall and was just hanging there. I guess they think the seal will stick to the wall.

Also found where they had screwed the horizontal seal on the kitchen slide through one of the slide wires pinning it up against the wall, wonder how long that would have taken to frey and fail. Thanks Keystone........

Glad I didn’t spend a day taking it to the dealership.

Now to patch the roof where it bubbled.

I reached out to Norco and had the drip pans two days later. Ask for Michelle, she can tell you all about the issue with the “improved” gear box design.

[jefff944]

How were you able to access the motor? The distance between the slide roof and the ceiling is to narrow to access. Looks like the fascia on the front of the slide needs to be pulled. I the correct way to access and if so, how do you remove it. Thanks, Jeff

[opienva1]

Mine had apart on the interior in the middle with2 screws holding it in place.

[rsv4pilot]

How were you able to access the motor? The distance between the slide roof and the ceiling is to narrow to access. Looks like the fascia on the front of the slide needs to be pulled. I the correct way to access and if so, how do you remove it. Thanks, Jeff



Two screws held mine in place.

[Texcoonazz]

Took my new 2018 Raptor(new older stock) into the dealer to have a few items fixed under warranty. During the walk around we noticed the electric motor on the main slide leaked oil onto the roof and we had a bubble. Little discouraged by this because I asked the tech guy that did the walk thru with me 45 days ago when we picked it up if my unit had the problematic motors installed. I knew about the problem prior and suggested installing pans. His looked at the motors and said they were fine and were not the problem motors. Really wish I had of went with my instincts and installed the pans or put something in place to catch the oil.

Dealer said they have a fix where that install a strip across the defect area. Is this the tape everyone is talking about? What is confidence in this method over the normal life of the roof? If not mistaken the roof is supposed to last 20-25yrs. Is the repair method being implemented just a band aid to get the unit past the warranty period? OR is it a real fix.

I am a little OCD and just knowing that there is a bandaid does not set well with me.

[GaryUT]

Have they corrected the problem gearboxes on the 2019 models, or at least put drip pans on at the factory?

[moodman]

The problem has to do with the motor supplier for Keystone. This was relayed to me that the motor manufacturer used a new type of rubber O-ring for the shaft that comes out of the motor. There is a sump where oil resides, kind of like an oil pan in an engine. The oil in there is filled above the level of the O-ring and some of it leaks out. Once the oil has leaked below the O-ring, it will stop leaking. The pans are temporary until that happens, so they won't continue to leak forever.
But this begs the question about what will happen if the oil is no longer lubricating the shaft because it has leaked below the shaft. Time will tell, but I predict there will be failures of the motors in time when this happens. Mark my words. It is inevitable.

[GaryUT]

Have they corrected the problem gearboxes on the 2019 models, or at least put drip pans on at the factory?


Well I just got back from checking the trailer at the storage yard.


The bedroom slide has a drip pan under it, it does not look like the other ones in this thread though.




https://i.imgur.com/CazzrNL.jpg


The dinette slide DOES NOT have a drip pan, and has leaked onto the roof membrane.


https://i.imgur.com/CNpGARD.jpg

Needless to say I am not pleased with Keystone at this point. Now to try and get this into the dealer.



Gary

[6.2 Superduty]

Well I just got back from checking the trailer at the storage yard.


The bedroom slide has a drip pan under it, it does not look like the other ones in this thread though.




https://i.imgur.com/CazzrNL.jpg


The dinette slide DOES NOT have a drip pan, and has leaked onto the roof membrane.


https://i.imgur.com/CNpGARD.jpg

Needless to say I am not pleased with Keystone at this point. Now to try and get this into the dealer.



Gary

What was your outcome?

[GaryUT]

What was your outcome?


The service manager told me that Keystone approved replacing the roof membrane and the gearbox.


It has taken them them over a month and a half to get the membrane and gearbox delivered. I'm trying to get an appointment set up to take the trailer in sometime next week. I plan on marking the gearbox before I take it in to see if they actually replace it or not.


I'll post the outcome here.

[MarkEHansen]

Hmmm, as I understand it the gearboxes just leak some times. If you get a new one, how do you know it won't leak as well? I think the only solution is to install the drip pan under it - at least until the manufacturer of the gearbox makes a change.

[6.2 Superduty]

I showed the service advisor a picture of my roof and he told me he never heard of slide motors leaking. He sent picture to keystone, awaiting reply.
I called norco (the supplier of the motors) and they are aware of problem. She told me problem is caused by grease heating up in summer. She also told me drip pans are now standard equipment.

[hobiecat]

Hmmm, as I understand it the gearboxes just leak some times. If you get a new one, how do you know it won't leak as well? I think the only solution is to install the drip pan under it - at least until the manufacturer of the gearbox makes a change. The leak is not the only problem with the junk gear box. They use cheap casting which causes the gears to strip, then the slide is stuck. I’m on gear box #3. And I have friends that are having the same issue

[moodman]

My 2018 Montana HC fifth wheel had this issue on ALL 5 slides for me. It was explained to me that the comany that makes the motors and gearbox changed something in the seal where the shaft exits the gearbox. I was also told that they overfilled the boxes with grease and it spills out of the box until the grease/oil level is below where the shaft exits, then it stops leaking.

When I pointed this out on taking possession, apparently I was the first one to notice it. But it bubbled up the roof fabric. They cleaned the fabric, but it then had the consistency of soft rubber, so I was not happy, I made them patch every place where the roof membrane was messed up with patches so that in the future when it rubs in and out it won't tear the now fragile rubber. They did it and I am OK with it now. Oh, and of course, they put the pans on.

I think this is a poor "fix" for the problem. The original gearboxes didn't have this issue. I would think the responsible thing to do would be to have a recall.

[GaryUT]

What was your outcome?


Well I got the trailer back today.


New motor and drip pans. Keystone has a repair procedure for the roof membrane. Clean the oil off with alcohol, use a heat gun to heat up the membrane and press it back down, and cover it with eternabond.
They put a 6" strip of eternabond the width of the slide. I can still see the bubble under the eternabond.


The new gearbox has 2 drip pans under it, unfortunately the "technician" who did the work didn't notice that the lower drip pan hits the edge of the slide when it is open all the way. The cables that close the slide are way too loose, you can see the chain drooping in the third photo. Yet they claimed to have opened and closed the slide several times to verify that everything was OK.

[6.2 Superduty]

Still waiting for a reply from Keystone. I know some people are installing these drip pans themself but on my 269rls bullet it appears the whole facia has to be removed to gain access. I dont see any fasteners,I guess it is glued on.

[MarkEHansen]

My fascia has 6 "buttons" across the front edge. You pry them off (by hand) and they expose screws behind them.

[jsmith948]

Well I got the trailer back today.

The cables that close the slide are way too loose, you can see the chain drooping in the third photo. Yet they claimed to have opened and closed the slide several times to verify that everything was OK.

An FYI on the issue of loose cables/chains. On our Laredo, the cables and chains on one of the large slides were very loose (sagging). The slide seemed to extend and retract without issue and top to bottom seal contact seemed to be o.k. so I didn't mess with it. One day while retracting the slide it hesitated then there was a very loud metallic popping sound. Turned out the two adjusting blocks on one side of the slide came in contact with one another instead passing by each other. The loose chains had allowed the blocks to rotate to a 45 degrees from vertical. This resulted in a bent adjustment screw and the need to replace the cable. If your cables are looser than the 1/2" deflection recommended (1 inch total) I would adjust them.

[Sokcap48]

I have a 2018 Montana H C ( bought in 2017 ). Has anyone done the repair yourself ? If so how did you do it? Has anyone cut out the bad part and used Dicor? Would that be a viable option. Thanks so much
Paul B Little Double Lung Transplant 9-30-16 Lung in a Box Recipient

[NH_Bulldog]

I just did the install and repair following the Keystone Service Bulletin (KSB) instructions. Mine was in the date range of the acknowledged defective gearboxes, so I was able to procure the necessary parts and did the work myself, and you do NOT use Dicor as part of the process.

[6.2 Superduty]

Still waiting for a reply from Keystone. I know some people are installing these drip pans themself but on my 269rls bullet it appears the whole facia has to be removed to gain access. I dont see any fasteners,I guess it is glued on.

I am late posting the outcome of my slide roof problem. Dealer replaced the slide roof and installed drip pan.
While it was there I showed them a soft spot in the floor. Trailer was sent to factory for repairs. Keystone has a plant dedicated to replacing floors on lightweight trailers. They turn out five or six a day. Mine was away four months.

[Carrottop]

Does anyone know when they made the change on the seal? Were the 2017 models affected?

[jsb5717]

Seems like the problem has been solved since you don't hear much about it anymore. Our 2018 had the problem but was fixed under warranty. I thought that I had heard that it was in 2018 that they solved the issue so likely in 2019 and newer models you won't find leaking gear boxes. Don't hold me to it...:hide:

[ewbldavis]

huh...guess I will check my 2020 Cougar for drip pans just in case...

[GaryUT]

Seems like the problem has been solved since you don't hear much about it anymore. Our 2018 had the problem but was fixed under warranty. I thought that I had heard that it was in 2018 that they solved the issue so likely in 2019 and newer models you won't find leaking gear boxes. Don't hold me to it...:hide:


I wont hold you to it; but our 2019 had the problem. One motor had a drip pan the other didn't.


Gary

[busterbrown]

Prior to "repairing" my slide roof due to the leaking gear boxes, I spoke with BAL Industries. At no charge, they sent me two drip pans. The rep I spoke with also told me that the gear boxes were "overfilled" from the supplier. After the lubricant falls below a certain level, the seals will not leak. She also told me that the thermoplastic polyolefin membrane reacts to the gear oil and other membrane compositions like EPDM do not. Unfortunately, for us with RVs and and TPO rubber roofs, we may never know how long that will be.

So, their only solution was for dealers to hang drip pans underneath the gear assembly. As far as the repair on the slide roofs, that's up to the dealer and Keystone. i didn't want to pursue a long, season ending dealer fix so I decided to do the drip pan installs myself and provide reinforcement covering to the bubbled area (by way of Eternabond tape).

https://www.keystoneforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=362653&postcount=104

[Carrottop]

Mine is a 2017 and have never looked to see if it was leaking. I will do so this weekend. I was just wondering what model year they changed the seal type that caused the leaking.

[NH_Bulldog]

The KSB says: Keystone, Dutchmen, and CrossRoads units with Norco slides produced in 1/1/2017 through 3/31/2018 and 8/1/2018 through 9/30/2018. This is what the “leak” looks like, more of a seep than a leak but it only takes a drop or two.

[Customer1]

I'm so glad I saw this thread. I removed the fascia on the slide today and found my gearbox leaking. There is no drip pan but fortunately there is no damage. There was a little oil leakage behind the fascia but the roof membrane was spared.

If I wouldn't have seen this thread it probably would have been a long time before I noticed any damage since I have a topper over the slide.

https://i.imgur.com/ho6vvsxl.jpg

[ewbldavis]

I assume they are being safe vs. sorry - my 2020 has the drip pans.

[Customer1]

I called today. 574-262-3400 I was promised a pan will arrive shortly.

[Blair Im 311]

I have a 2018 Keystone Impact 311 that was manufactured in January of 18 so I assume I may have the leaking gear box and if the pans were not installed I may have a problem, we purchased the unit 01/2019.

[Blair Im 311]

I checked today and both of my slides have the issue & no pans installed,
Pictures attached.

[TKDStudent]

How did you get Keystone to approve paying for replacing the whole slide top versus just patching it? They have approved patching my two and placing a drip tray under the gear boxes. I have called Keystone and complained that I do not think patching the roofs is acceptable, especially when they know this is a problem of theirs. I told them I want the whole roof replaced. At this point, they have only approved 1 hour each slide to patch the roof.