Please help with slide-out!!

[CamronL20]

So I’m stumped and can’t find anything on what is happening with my pop-out! It seems like it’s working and then it just jams up and makes this crazy sound. It has been acting funny all summer and would just stop working when I retract it. But now it won’t even pop out at all. I check and there’s nothing inhibiting it from going out. Is this a motor issue? If so how the hell do I replace it without it being able to move out at all? Any help would be great. I tried attaching a video but it keeps saying error. So if you can help me I can send the video to you. Thank you

[Campermike]

Is it freewheeling? Is yours the cable slide or something else?

[CamronL20]

Originally Posted by Campermike

Is it freewheeling? Is yours the cable slide or something else?

It’s the cable kind

[jasin1]

This is a long shot. But are you from Reno Nevada ? Reno Ohio or Canada? If it below freezing and it iced up from snow or sleet could that be a problem? If your in Nevada never mind
It may help if you list your year and model of trailer.

[sourdough]

Camron your description of the issue is very vague. What is "jamming" up? What is a "crazy" sound? Acting up all summer....what is that?

The mechanics of a cable slide system are pretty simple; adjustments not so much if you haven't done them. Have you looked things over at all? You have multiple pulleys, cables, attachment points, seals, wear bar etc. Any of them could be putting something in the way and causing the slide to bind....a better description of the sounds, past issues exactly etc. would help greatly.

[Campermike]

Yes a better description of what it was doing, any weird noises the last time you brought it in, and if the motor is turning when you try to open it now would help. Also removing the decorative piece in the front center trim should give you a better look at the motor gearbox and driveshaft.

[jasin1]

I will defer to the group on this one,lol ,you guys have much more experience with the mechanics of rv’s

[CamronL20]

I’m in Reno Nevada

[CamronL20]

Ok well give me an email or phone number so I can send the video I took of the problem. Yes motor is still working. It works initially when trying to extend, then it stops working and makes this binding up sound. During the summer when retracting it, the slide would just stop and it would take 5-10 seconds to start working again correctly. No binding up sound. Two different issues of it not working correctly. I inspected everything and nothing looks out of the ordinary. Cables and pulleys are completely normal looking. My goal with this forum is to save me a little money so I don’t have to take it it and hopefully can fix it myself. I just don’t know what the issue is.

[Northofu1]

There are a few youtube videos on repair and maintenance of slides.
Sometimes you have to spend a little to learn how to work on things and to properly maintain them.
Year make model of trailer and how long you've owned it for a start, have you done any kind of maintenance to the cables, wiper seals, or checked underneath the slide since you've owned it?

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by CamronL20

Ok well give me an email or phone number so I can send the video I took of the problem. Yes motor is still working. It works initially when trying to extend, then it stops working and makes this binding up sound. During the summer when retracting it, the slide would just stop and it would take 5-10 seconds to start working again correctly. No binding up sound. Two different issues of it not working correctly. I inspected everything and nothing looks out of the ordinary. Cables and pulleys are completely normal looking. My goal with this forum is to save me a little money so I don’t have to take it it and hopefully can fix it myself. I just don’t know what the issue is.

As with many issues on an RV, they can be very complex and have many answers. As you said, you don't know what the issue is, and we don't either unless you give very detailed descriptions of what things are doing and what you have done; pics are extremely helpful. If not, we all guess, from the bottom up, of what might, coulda, woulda gone wrong with a cable slide. I gave you some things to look at, after that we need specific details of your issue so we can help - realize those trying to help are more than willing but are doing this blind and deaf.....

[Campermike]

There are some excellent youtube videos that show how the system works and how to replace cables and it adjust it.

Here's one explaining it https://youtu.be/L9OE61EDWYc

Here's another that was extremely helpful when I had to replace the driveshaft on mine. It also shows how all the trim comes out.

https://youtu.be/we0z3iVD9Uo

[Northofu1]

Also googling your problem will more times than not, lead you to a thread started in this forum.

[Dhuhn]

If your slide was jerking coming in it maybe your gear box attached to the motor. A while back there was a problem with the gears breaking causing slide to bind up.

[roadglide]

It’s been acting all summer now your slide has exploded retracted inside your camper, making it difficult to inspect. I would look for rollers being pulled out of the wall, broken cables Jammed inside the frame. The choices are take it to the dealer or start disassembling trimwork cables inside after its pushed out you can reach the motor .

[flybouy]

I'm no slide out connoisseur but I see two things when I zoom into the photo. The wall trim above the slide-out gearbox is broken and it may be camera angle but the chains on the right side of the photo doesn't look right. Maybe it's wrapped around the sprocket or doubled over? I think at this point you need to remove the slide out fascia and get a better look.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by flybouy

I'm no slide out connoisseur but I see two things when I zoom into the photo. The wall trim above the slide-out gearbox is broken and it may be camera angle but the chains on the right side of the photo doesn't look right. Maybe it's wrapped around the sprocket or doubled over? I think at this point you need to remove the slide out fascia and get a better look.

It does look like the lower sprocket in the picture is cocked at an angle...are the sprockets welded to the shaft or held in place with a pin or key way? If one sprocket (upper) is working and lower sprocket is slipping would that cause the issue ..again I don’t know anything about how they work ,I’m just curious

[jasin1]

If you can why don’t you post the video on YouTube or some other site and then just put the link in the forum...I’m sure someone can figure out.
I don’t really like to give out personal email or phone number ..I get enough spam and robo calls as it is so I try not to give out.I’m sure you can understand that.

[Northofu1]

Originally Posted by jasin1

It does look like the lower sprocket in the picture is cocked at an angle...are the sprockets welded to the shaft or held in place with a pin or key way? If one sprocket (upper) is working and lower sprocket is slipping would that cause the issue ..again I don’t know anything about how they work ,I’m just curious

Both sprockets on my past Bullet slides were slightly cocked. I thought that was not right and talked to a mobile RV tech I trust , he said they are supposed to be that way. It has to do with the deflection (slightly loose) of the chain and limiting the chance of derailment.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by Northofu1

Both sprockets on my past Bullet slides were slightly cocked. I thought that was not right and talked to a mobile RV tech I trust , he said they are supposed to be that way. It has to do with the deflection (slightly loose) of the chain and limiting the chance of derailment.

Ok thanks. I know I don’t have a lot to offer in the diagnosis but I can’t help it. Fixing things can get addictive,it’s like a mystery that I have to solve. I’m no fun to watch movies with either