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Topic: How deflate slide bladder that has a leak? (Read 440 times) previous topic - next topic

How deflate slide bladder that has a leak?

Bedroom slide bladder in my 2004 has an obvious leak in the bladder itself.  I can see it and hear it from outside.  I shut off the air valve isolating it and no other leaks found (at least in the slide air lines).  Vacuum can't build up enough to get the flashing yellow light to go solid.

I have plans to get the bladder fixed and the slide is in so no problem driving - but - on my coach, the safe cannot be accessed with the slide in and there is something I need from it.

Any ideas on how to get the bladder deflated so I can get it out?  Is there any glue etc that works on the bladder rubber?  It's the original bladder.

Thanks
Larry Rubin
2004 U295 38' build 6278
2014 Jeep Cherokee

Re: How deflate slide bladder that has a leak?

Reply #1 –
Larry,

You should be able to go down in the basement and find the manifold that controls the slide seal.  Once located somehow jumper the vacuum switch (lie to the system) so you get the permissive to move the slide.  Now I wouldn't do this on a new seal but if yours has failed not such of a big deal.  Hopefully DSD(Scott) will chime in as I think he has investigated this trick on his coach, I don't have a print of your HWH system to look at here at home or I might be able to help more with this idea.

Mike
 
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: How deflate slide bladder that has a leak?

Reply #2 –
Does this diagram help?
Larry Rubin
2004 U295 38' build 6278
2014 Jeep Cherokee

Re: How deflate slide bladder that has a leak?

Reply #3 –
Larry, my bedroom slide has a leak too, but it's not big enough to make the bladder not create some vacuum. It is enough to constantly leak when pumped up though.

I bought a sheet of neoprene from Grainger that's 1/4" thick and stuff it into the gap above the hole in the bladder, then tape it in place with no residue duct tape before letting it inflate, and it holds air much better.  For your application, you may be able to use a similar sheet and tape it down to cover the hole and allow a suction to be made.  You could even apply a little grease or silicone directly to the area with the hole, to make a better seal to the sheet.  This is what I bought:

GRAINGER APPROVED Neoprene Sheet: Std, 12 in x 24 in, 0.125 in Thick, 40A,...
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: How deflate slide bladder that has a leak?

Reply #4 –
What about just clamping the vacuum line out from the basement to that bladder?  Vacuum is created albeit only in the line, but your HWH doesnt know that.
Mark, Monique & Steven Hachigian
2004 36U295 Build No. 6239
2011 Honda CRV 4WD
2024 Dynamax Isata 5 30fw Xplorer

Re: How deflate slide bladder that has a leak?

Reply #5 –

Quote
Vacuum is created albeit only in the line, but your HWH doesnt know that.

More than one way to you know what!

I'd like to minimize wear on the bladder until replaced.  I'm going to try a small bicycle tube patch just to see if it holds the vacuum.
Larry Rubin
2004 U295 38' build 6278
2014 Jeep Cherokee

Re: How deflate slide bladder that has a leak?

Reply #6 –
Larry if you can locate the leak then you can put some, almost any brand tape over the leak and it will get sucked into leak. My coach doesn't have a vacuum switch , just a timer. Tape  will do nothing to seal with pressure. Another option would be to pinch the hose on the bladder, not the plastic tube. It will break. Also if the slide area is wetted/lubricated so it will slide this would be beneficial. Looks like if you disconnect switch and jumper coach side it will operate. Good luck.
Scott

Re: How deflate slide bladder that has a leak?

Reply #7 –

Larry, still working on mine due to bad weather here, but my slide bladder would not deflate.  I purchased a small vacuum pump from Amazon and removed the line going to the bladder and inserted it into the new pump and then found 12 volt source and manually started the pump and sucked the  bladder down.  You will also need to order that plug in for the pump, listed below.  When I stopped the pump, the bladder remained deflated and I moved the slide out and then re attached the bladder line to the manifold, then the bladder re-inflated when I turned the switch off in the coach!  I know you have a hole in yours, but the vacuum pump will solve your issues to get slide out.  You might even just try sucking on the line when you disconnect from the bladder manifold and see if that works.  It does not take much to deflate bladder.
Amazon.com: Electrical Vacuum Pump Compatible with Ford E-350 E-450 Excursion...

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Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus
 

Re: How deflate slide bladder that has a leak?

Reply #8 –
The bicycle tube patch worked to get the bladder deflated and I got a solid yellow light.  Of course, it didn't completely prevent a leak on inflation but that's OK.

Thanks for all the ideas!  They will be on the forum for future use.

Larry Rubin
2004 U295 38' build 6278
2014 Jeep Cherokee