I've got a leak (Hydraulic)

Ol'Joe · 03-28-2007, 05:58 AM

Hi All,
I've found a hydraulic leak coming from under my bedroom slide out. It's just a few drops running down from where the hose enters the enclosed paneling under the coach. I suspect (read hope) that it's just a loose fitting. The question is what's the easiest way to get a look at that slides piston? Is there and access from under the coach or do you have to go down through the bed? Also were is the fluid reservoir so I can check it's level.
Thanks All

Ol'Joe · 03-28-2007, 05:58 AM

Hi All,
I've found a hydraulic leak coming from under my bedroom slide out. It's just a few drops running down from where the hose enters the enclosed paneling under the coach. I suspect (read hope) that it's just a loose fitting. The question is what's the easiest way to get a look at that slides piston? Is there and access from under the coach or do you have to go down through the bed? Also were is the fluid reservoir so I can check it's level.
Thanks All

Trek-Cyclist · 03-28-2007, 07:31 AM

I think it's under the bed.... You might have to take the bed deck off?? Call Winnebago to make sure....
2 places for reservoir. behind the livingroom slide front behind the front fender. the second place behind the front grill black box...

follow the Hydro hoses from the front slide... you'll find it...
I had a few leaks this year one was the hose and the other 2 were the fittings..... all had to be replaced.... I would call HWH they were very helpful with our problems....
Also try topics and see if there are other posts like on page 3 on this forum..

Ol'Joe · 03-28-2007, 04:02 PM

Hi Ed,

Thanks for waking me up. I did call Winnebago and boy am I glad you told me to. The service tech had good and bad news. The bad: In order to get at that particular piston the entire slide must be removed. The Good: The system is still under warranty. Now to find someone chop chop. We're 3 weeks from going fulltime. Best to get this out of the way before we're fully loaded out. The DW is still worried to death about having to unload all the closets and under the bed. My comment, Welcome to the F/T life lessons.

Thanks again.

Tom-NC · 03-28-2007, 04:24 PM

ol'Joe,
If you are going out I-80 west then by all means go to HWH direct in Iowa.
I don't know where you are in NC but there is a good Winnebago dealker in Hendersonville off of I-26......Todd's RV & Marine. They are great and very helpful.
Tom

Trek-Cyclist · 03-28-2007, 06:32 PM

Joe, Glad it worked out!

I wouldn't think the whole slide would have to come out if the fitting is leaking? Very seldom does a ram leak it's usally the fitting or the hose..
Get it checked out by a GOOD Winnebago Service Center!

I didn't have a rear bedroom slide leak mine was at the tank 2 fittings and the front living room slide hose and fitting. Knock on wood!

Tom N · 03-29-2007, 05:52 AM

Hi Joe;

I have a 2005 Suncruiser 38R so I'm interested in your solution.

I can tell you the pump/reservoir is behind the driver's front wheel. There is a cap on top of the tank and the dip stick is attached to the cap. The cap is threaded. It's easier to get at with the front slide out but you need all slides in and the jacks up for a proper fluid level check.

-Tom
leaving FL for PA Friday

Adventurer · 03-29-2007, 08:06 AM

Similar problem here. HWH uses an equalizing cylinder to synch the 2 slide cylinders. In my experience on these forums, they often leak. IMO like most HWH products, they are cheaply made.

Luckily you're under warranty so hopefully they will pay to have it replaced (until the new one starts leaking).

Ol'Joe · 03-29-2007, 08:36 AM

Hi Guys,

I talked to HWH again this morning. They confirm Adventurer's comment but were unsure if the slide had to be removed. I've got no choice but to assume the worst case because Winnebago said that there was a U-type channel protecting the cylinder and that the slide was on top of it. I've got an appointment with a HWH approved RV center in Porstmouth, VA on 18 April. This will be after our first inital trip as fulltimers. New Oleans for a week starting 08 April and then back to Virginia beach, VA. I will have to keep and eye on the reservoir while I'm gone.

Tom N · 03-29-2007, 02:47 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Adventurer:
Similar problem here. HWH uses an equalizing cylinder to synch the 2 slide cylinders. In my experience on these forums, they often leak. IMO like most HWH products, they are cheaply made.

Luckily you're under warranty so hopefully they will pay to have it replaced (until the new one starts leaking). </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm almost positive the bedroom slide uses one cylinder, thus no synch mechanism, even the big slide on the 38R.

Trek-Cyclist · 03-29-2007, 03:35 PM

Good luck and I hope they can fix it without a great deal of time!
If you haven't already let them know you are fulltime and need the RV to live in... each night.

Ol'Joe · 03-30-2007, 03:41 AM

Hi All,
Now I'm concerned. I downloaded the diagrams from the winnebago website and I believe Tom's right. It is a single cylinder but what concerns me is on closer inspection of both the chassis and the diagrams there appears to be an access plate that can expose the outboard end of the cylinder. The hydraulic hoses go right through it and that's exactly where the leak appears to be. Two bolts seem to attach it to the chassis. My concern of coarse is why didn't the Winnebago Tech mention this? Well I can't stand it, not knowing for sure. I can just see the headlines now, Slide falls out of motorhome, Lands on Dumb-Bum owner, Only things visable, Smelly ol' sneakers.

Trek-Cyclist · 03-30-2007, 08:22 AM

Joe,
Not unbelievable!
Sometimes you have to do the homework for them but the good thing is now YOU KNOW! Now when they do the work you can show them exactly where it is.... Saves time,$$$$ and frustration!
No matter what have fun and enjoy the life style!

Fossilhog · 03-30-2007, 12:35 PM

Joe,

Where exactly is this access plate you speak of? I'm curious....

Ol'Joe · 03-30-2007, 03:51 PM

Well I just came out from under the coach. The access plate I went looking for turned out not to be one. It's welded to the frame and the two bolt heads I see are welded to the plate. I now suspect that it's a mount for the cylinder. I just can't believe that the entire slide has to come out in order to get to that cylinder. Tommorow I'm going down through the bed as far as I can. For Fossilhog, if you lie on your back directly behind the Lp tank and just forward of the heat pump, look straight up and you see a black 5" x 10" plate with 2 bolt heads right at the ouside edge of the frame. I hate being this stubborn. The Saga contiues.

Fossilhog · 03-30-2007, 04:21 PM

Joe I had my cylinder replaced 2 years ago. They had to pull the AC unit to repair that and saw the leak. Now I have seepage at the other end of the hose so I'm back to square one like you. Along with that repair they replaced 3 or 4 hoses in the front that were bad also.

Adventurer · 04-02-2007, 08:21 AM

It may not help you much if you can't get to the cylinder without removing the slide. But if you can get the cylinder or even hoses off, I would strongly recommend you replace them with a higher quality product than HWH uses. Tractor Supply and other farm equipment sales sell better hydraulic hoses and cylinders. There also might be local hydraulic repair places in your area that can rebuild your cylinder with better parts and/or make hoses to fit your needs.

In my experience people who replace leaky HWH parts with HWH parts are just prolonging their problems.

smlranger · 04-02-2007, 08:33 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Adventurer:
It may not help you much if you can't get to the cylinder without removing the slide. But if you can get the cylinder or even hoses off, I would strongly recommend you replace them with a higher quality product than HWH uses. Tractor Supply and other farm equipment sales sell better hydraulic hoses and cylinders. There also might be local hydraulic repair places in your area that can rebuild your cylinder with better parts and/or make hoses to fit your needs.

In my experience people who replace leaky HWH parts with HWH parts are just prolonging their problems. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I just recently had to replace one of the HWH hoses. The hose I got from a local rubber supply company was much heavier, much more flexible and less costly than the HWH replacement quoted by HWH. The fellow making up the new hose commented on the fact that the hose he made was much better than the thermoplastic HWH hose assembly.

Adventurer · 04-02-2007, 08:38 AM

And RVer's praise the HWH service department. I suppose it's easy to be nice to complaining customers when you know you're fleecing em for inferior quality parts, again and again!

Ol'Joe · 04-02-2007, 04:25 PM

And it continues; I deceided to talk with a friend of mine in the business. Do service techs talk a different language to rv repair professionals? I explained my predicament to my friend. He calls HWH and 'lo and behold HWH says no, you can access the cylinder without pulling the slide. My friend explains it to me and yep I think it'll work. But I'm not a gonna do it! I don't trust myself not to screw up the procedure. So after I get back from New Orleans, Off to the repair shop I go. Thanks for all your inputs and for letting me vent.