Foretravel Owners' Forum

Was getting ready to put the slide in but that didn't happen. Called Mot and talked to several techs. To make a long story short I made a appt and scheduled for service on Wednesday.
The issue I have is after releasing the pressure on the 2 solenoids for the main slide and gathering 5 guys to puch it in, all we could do is move it about an inch. Any tricks or suggestions?

On a 2002, which has the train system from the Emergency Retract document, are the 2 purple conditions met?:

 Train Arm System

1. Locks = open unlock solenoid this will keep locks open during operation

2. Make sure air compressor is running. Check seal and make sure it has deflated. If not you will have to manually deflate seal. Care will need to be taken if seal is manually deflated.

 3. Open room cylinder extend solenoid.  If hyd. pump will run the room will retract at this point if seal is deflated.

 4. Once room is retracted close cylinder extend solenoid

So since you have moved it an inch the lock pins should be released. Do you see a airgap at the bladder? During initial attempt to close did anything move or make unusual noise? Your slide is completely different than my 2001 so im limited on what I know. Could you hear the pump running?

I'm searching for things to check

2002 Train Slide Issue (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=20161.msg145565#msg145565)

Some manuals on the train system in this topic Large slide moves in. (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=19897.0)

Older post with links to other train system discussions, plus good discussion in the thread  Please Help. Slide issue and stuck (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=42735.msg428692#msg428692)

John, does the pump run if you jump it? On my 2002 when I bought the coach the L/R slide did not work. I was able to operate the slide by opening the solenoids no more than 1/4 turn 1 at a time and jumping the pump motor to get the slide to work until I found the problem. If you can find the diagram for the solenoids you'll find the 1 to open. My problem was a broken magnet inside a lock actuator witch disabled the slide to move at all. 1 of the solenoids operate to go in, 1 to go out, 2 for the lock solenoids lock and unlock, 2 for the wardrobe slide. PM me and we can talk on the phone. Jim.

John, also do not jump the pump without one of the solenoids open. Jim.

Thanks Jim, my hydro pump works fine, I put 2 new solenoids, extend and retract on. The problem I'm having is after releasing the pressure on the solenoids I still can't get the slide pushed in. Granted the 5 people I recruited aren't the biggest and strongest. I do know that I had to replace the synchronized cylinder a few years ago. After releasing the pressure on it 2 people were able to push it in. That's kind of a pita but will do it if necessary. Was hoping someone had a trick up their sleeve to share.

Is the air bladder retracted?  When you look at the slide from the outside, can you see a gap between the slide and the body in the slot?  If the bladder is touching the slide you'll never push the slide, even if hydraulic pressure is released.

Foretravel use to install a hook under the couch to use a come-along

What years? 

There are several different slide mechanisms, depending on year.  Hatchet's 2002 has a train system, which is the only year to use that slide mechanism.

Keith, the bladder is toast. Thats not what's preventing the slide from going in. The top of the slide is further out than the bottom. It appears that the slide needs to be lifted while being pushed in. Anyone have a idea on what that slide weighs?

Michelle, Foretravel failed on a better mousetrap with the train slide.

Is there any possibility of trying to extend (and hold your finger on the rocker) to help it realign, then try retracting?  See Joe's post here in one of the earlier linked topics where the slide wasn't even  Please Help. Slide issue and stuck (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=42735.msg428700#msg428700)

I'm finding some old posts about the tilt issue being due to a syncronizing cylinder/resynchronizing procedure fix HWH room extension manifold drawing 2002 (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=19053.msg132935#msg132935) , but unfortunately nothing that outlines how to do the resynchronization.

That's exactly what I was going to do butt now  the yellow light on the control panel just blinks at me. I unplugged the plug and jumped it but that didn't work either. I'm sure something else will pop up for me to lose more hair.

If the bladder is shot, I know on an '03 that light won't go solid since the controller won't detect vacuum.  Not sure on an '02 (some are on a timer).  You might try clamping off the air line to the bladder so that the venturi can create a vacuum.  That might fake things out to let the light go solid so you can get the slide to move.  You do need air pressure (aux compressor or main engine compressor) to generate the vacuum.

Emergency '03 slide bladder repair (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=10319.msg47972#msg47972)

ETA - found another option as well

2003 slide bladder problem (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=19520.msg138123#msg138123)

Don't try these on a coach where the slide bladder is still good. 

Think the 02 is still the timer. If the bladder is dragging  baby powder may help to lubricate. Im sure the elevation has an adjustment.

Yeah I here you, I may try all of that after I talk to MOT in the am.

May be a long shot, but check the 9700 wire from the control box to the Auxiliary compressor.  I had an issues a few months back where that wire was disconnected from the harness to the Aux compressor, end the result was symptom you describe here.  Turning the key on the slide control, the light would just blink continuously but the aux compressor would not come on.  That disabled the button to retract the slide. 

The connections from the control box are on pages 29 and 50 of the attached.  The 9700 wire sends a 12V signal to start the compressor.    If

When I could not get my slide in I made a call to James T at Foretravel and he walked me through the process and I was able to get the slide in and locked until I got to Keith's place where he fixed the problem.

If you haven't already, PM Jim.  He's very familiar with his 2002 with that system.

I don't know what happened but it must be my luck day. I started the engine and pumped the brakes and released the parking brake. There was a great release of air under the coach. Pushed and pulled parking brake a few times and the stopped leaking.
On the control pad I had a steady light and the pump pulled the slide in. It's out about 1/2" at the top left. I didn't hear the pins move for the locks to engage though.

OK, I'm convinced your issue is that 9700 wire or at the control box where something is preventing power getting to it.  Maybe a switch issue, loose wire upstream or something like that  when you get a chance, test for 12 volts on that wire with the slide key turned on.

You've described exactly what I needed to do to get the slide to come in and the raise buttons on the HWH pad to work.  Here's what happened:

We had someone work on the rig and they accidently left the 9700 unhooked and hook up another air wire instead.  We would get to camp and auto-level.  After a couple days, we'd go to move and were unable to retract the slide.  I didn't suspect the compressor as it would come on every 24 hours or so to air up the auxiliary tank.  What I didn't realize was auto-level would call for air (via the 9700 wire) would try for 15 minutes and after that the whole HWH leveling system would shut down.  This was by design.

The clue was when we turned the ignition on the excess slope light would be on at the pad.  After starting up, airing up and the taking the parking brake off and setting it back on then hitting the HWH reset, we were able to bring the system back to life.  Apparently at that point the engine compressor put enough air back in the system to deflate the bladder and the slide was able to operate.  This happened a couple time before we go home.  First we though it was a one-off, then after a couple times we knew it was more serious.  The situation masked itself because on just an overnight stop, there was enough air in the tank for the bladder vacuum and, auto-level hadn't tried and failed.  This drove me crazy.

If you can get the bladder to deflate with the system operating and the HWH system functioning (and parked at home), maybe try to fully extend the slide and see if the sync  cylinder won't bring it back into alignment on the extend?  Then back in again and hopefully that will get you locked down and ready to move.

Everything is operational on our system now.  But, I'd made an appointment at HWH first week of June, so we're heading that way next week anyway and I'll use the appointment to check the system, especially the electrical, top to bottom anyway.  We've had great experience going there directly in the past.  Cost was about a quarter of the cost it would have been at MOT and they have the ability to repair/rebuild parts overnight.  We had the slide synch cylinder and block done first year owning the coach (Covid year) and were in and out the next day for less than $500.  Well worth the trip and great people to work with.

 

I always had the coach aired up. Since the bladder is toast, I didn't need the small compressor on since I had the air closed off at the manifold next to the vacuum switch.
When I extract the rear slide the auk pump comes on and vacs and airs up the bladder.
 When the yellow light at the control panel wouldn't stop blinking yesterday I did not have the engine running and was not at 90lbs.

Joe I got the slide in. Have a appointment scheduled on the 19th to take care of things.

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Sounds like a dive bar band name 😎

John, please follow up with what they find. Jim.

Jim I'm sure the list will be long.🤞