Looking for assistance with synchronizing slideout cylinders

[John Stephens]

Does anyone have experience with synching hydraulic cylinders after they have been rebuilt?

Last year, my front cylinder blew out when trying to extend the largest slide. It jammed with the front out and the rear of the slide still in, and couldn't be hand-cranked back into place, so the coach had to be towed to the nearest authorized HWH repair center. They got the slide back in place but couldn't make the repair because HWH, at that time, was eight weeks out on parts. This happened in Montana. I drove the coach back home to Florida unable to use the slideout for the rest of the trip.

When HWH began having more backups and was unable to provide ETAs on parts deliveries, I asked my coach mechanic in town if he could rebuild the cylinders. I had read several reports indicating that when one cylinder blows out, you can expect the rest of them to follow, so I asked him to rebuild all six cylinders for the two front slides. He got them rebuilt and installed, but now is having trouble getting the largest slide to synch. He thinks it may be a problem with the lines needing bleeding, but it was his understanding that this system is self-bleeding.

I don't want to have to drive the coach all the way back to Iowa to have HWH look at this problem. Is there anyone on the forum that can lend some advice on this issue?

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide.

 

[crawford 111]

I believe you have air in lines you may have to keep cycling them till all the air bleeds out of system.

 

[John Canfield]

Isn't Paul Smith the HWH expert? If I remember the name correctly, his contact info is here somewhere, he should be able to help.

 

[youracman]

Might you be thinking of Paul Maddox, John? Paul is in AZ at 602-549-3638. He works for HWH and has helped a LOT of RVers out. He posts once in a great while over on Irv2 as "azpete". Suggest the OP call him and be sure to leave a brief msg.....he gets so many robo calls that he just deletes them if no message; but, he will return calls as soon as time permits.

Good luck to the OP on the fix.

 

[John Stephens]

My coach mechanic called HWH and spoke to a tech who led him through checking several fittings he wasn't aware existed that the RV dealer in Montana who got the slide back in for us had loosened and didn't tighten back up. It was a blessing in disguise because two o-rings on those fittings were broken. If my mechanic hadn't been directed to them, we would have had a leak the first time we tried to use the system.

 

[John Canfield]

Might you be thinking of Paul Maddox, John? Paul is in AZ at 602-549-3638. He works for HWH and has helped a LOT of RVers out. He posts once in a great while over on Irv2 as "azpete". Suggest the OP call him and be sure to leave a brief msg.....he gets so many robo calls that he just deletes them if no message; but, he will return calls as soon as time permits.

Good luck to the OP on the fix.

YES! Paul Maddox, thanks for the correction.

My coach mechanic called HWH and spoke to a tech who led him through checking several fittings he wasn't aware existed that the RV dealer in Montana who got the slide back in for us had loosened and didn't tighten back up. It was a blessing in disguise because two o-rings on those fittings were broken. If my mechanic hadn't been directed to them, we would have had a leak the first time we tried to use the system.

Good grief. The lunch whistle must have blown.

 

[Ray-IN]

I doubt I would use that "coach mechanic" again.

 

[Non-partic]

I'm guessing your bedroom slide works fine? ...So if you it's only the large slideout giving you problems, please let us know if you can extend your slide and the problem only occurs when you retract? Or do you have 3 slides?

Attached is a .pdf document you may or may not have. Let us know if you followed HWH's recommendations and you still are having problems?

I'm sure HWH has a document for bleeding air out of the lines after a cylinder overhaul, but I have read it. So please keep us posted on how you solve this problem. Thx!

 

[cbeierl]

A 2005 Adventurer 38J should have 3 slides--two living room and one bedroom.

 

[Non-partic]

Okay... It's just like my 2004 Horizon 40AD, which means you are supposed to check the fluid level in the HWH reservoir with only the passenger slide extended and all the other slide closed.

I asked HWH why? Answer: When you extend the passenger slide it RETURNS hydraulic fluid (Dexron III) to the HWH tank. ...So again, you want to extend this passenger slide and then check your fluid level.

Further, FYI, when you extend the large room slide, it PULLS fluid from the tank and I assume the bedroom slide will as well.

PS
I wouldn't blame your mechanic. If he can pull and overhaul your slide cylinders he should get a lot of credit for that! And hydraulics is a whole different kind of animal. The fact you even found a mechanic in your area willing to do this job is commendable. So pay no attention to anyone who wants to dump on your guy!

Here's a few more pictures for your HWH library.

And you should watch this video by Kevin Caudill, who I think has the same RV?

YouTube:

 

[Ray-IN]

HWH slideout systems identification pdf
Within that pdf each system has its own service guide.

 

[Drorgez01]

Hi all
Did any one rebuild their synchronize cylinder ?
I open my cylinder and the rods was disconnected please look at the picture
Do you know if it’s correct or they need to be screwed to each other?
Thanks

 

[Laura & Charles]

Welcome to the forums! Lots of knowledgeable and friendly folks here!I
I don’t know if this will be helpful or not:
We have two hydraulic slides and they have gone out and come in front first for a long time. Have had many folks look at it but recently found one that knew what the problem was and where to find it. Apparently the two slides share a solenoid that is responsible for equalizing the hydraulic pressure between the fore and aft rams. Rebuilding not an option, but replacement wasn’t too pricey ($2-3 hundred if I recall correctly).

 

[Drorgez01]

Thanks for the advice I will check tomorrow

 

[John Canfield]

Hi all
Did any one rebuild their synchronize cylinder ?
I open my cylinder and the rods was disconnected please look at the picture
Do you know if it’s correct or they need to be screwed to each other?
Thanks

So you took the cylinder apart and found the shaft in two pieces ("unscrewed")?

And welcome to the forum and Happy Thanksgiving.