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HWH pump leaking

On my 03 U320 I have Hydro fluid pooling up on the rubber floor.  I have to admit I have no idea how that system works.

I assume the reservoir is the large black tank with the fill nut on top.

The oil tends to pool up mainly towards the street side under the rear of the air compressor. 

I have also noticed my bedroom slide is no longer flush with the outside of the coach.

When I first noticed the pooling I mopped it up really well.  I have not used the slides since and the pool is back.

For starters I would like to know how to check the reservoir tank level as I assume it's running below normal level.

Then it would be helpful to understand how it has enough pressure to push through a seal when I'm not using the slides.

Lastly where the heck is the fluid coming from.

I have so many projects with this new to me 2003 that I'm having difficulty focusing.  I know I'm not the only one 😆
2003 U320 40 AGDS Build 6157 161K miles

Hampstead NC

Re: HWH pump leaking

Reply #1 –
I believe your model will have the slide out wardrobe in the bedroom.  If so, does it also have locking pins or not?  My 03 has the E/W bed, so no locking pins.  When bringing in the bedroom slide, it hits the stop in the mechanism, which causes the pump to build pressure unit it hits the 3000psi shut off switch pressure, which then turns the pump off.

It sounds like your is leaking from one of the solenoids at the the back of the pump...likely the hose to the ram that holds the slide in, which is why the slide is going back out a bit since pressure is not being maintained on the ram.

From the manuals I've seen, you would check the oil level with all slides in EXCEPT if you have the wardrobe slide.  If you have the wardrobe slide, you want that out to check the fluid level.

Look here for the operator manuals:  Foretravel Motorcoach Manuals – HWH® Corporation
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: HWH pump leaking

Reply #2 –
Also check to see if you have a synchronization cylinder mounted near the ceiling of the bay where the pump is mounted. I had a small leak that I thought was the pump or a solenoid, but it  turned out to be the synchronization cylinder. I found out when it failed completely and fluid began to pour out. The best way to find where you have a leak is to have someone else operate the slides while you observe the pump and everything else in the bay. Most likely you will see where the leak is if you do that.
Dave and Kathy Bennett
2004 U270
Build #6253
1600W Solar
700 AH Battle Born Lithium
2015 Jeep Wrangler

No matter what happens, remember you always get the trip out of it.

Re: HWH pump leaking

Reply #3 –
Well folks thanks for the advice.  I found what I believe is the synchronization cylinder over head tucked up tight to the pump bay door.

Question: I have front slide and wardrobe slide. Is there a synch cylinder for each room ?

Sure enough a hose ruptured.  The hose that runs back up into the coach that is.

I had another call into HWH last week for something else and was told they are still working on parts calls from August.

Anyone know where I can get this hose ? It says it must be the same length as it's peer.

How do I get to the other end of it to disconnect and replace ?
2003 U320 40 AGDS Build 6157 161K miles

Hampstead NC

Re: HWH pump leaking

Reply #4 –
Need to blow this up to see it....
2003 U320 40 AGDS Build 6157 161K miles

Hampstead NC

Re: HWH pump leaking

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Charlieboise –
Well folks thanks for the advice.  I found what I believe is the synchronization cylinder over head tucked up tight to the pump bay door.

Question: I have front slide and wardrobe slide. Is there a synch cylinder for each room ?

Sure enough a hose ruptured.  The hose that runs back up into the coach that is.

I had another call into HWH last week for something else and was told they are still working on parts calls from August.

Anyone know where I can get this hose ? It says it must be the same length as it's peer.


Try FOT (Foretravel) parts.  If they don't have it, they should have the length specs and there's a hydraulic hose place nearby so they could likely get one made for you.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: HWH pump leaking

Reply #6 –
If you can get the length and diameter of the hose , I'm sure a hydraulic hose shop in your area could make what you need.
Better yet, take the bad hose with you.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: HWH pump leaking

Reply #7 –
Given that you should be mobile, I'd consider taking the coach to a hydraulic/hose shop and see if they can put an end on the hose you have, so you don't have to remove/replace the whole length.  Add a union and another piece if needed to get to where it connects.
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: HWH pump leaking

Reply #8 –
I have a really good shop close by and will call them in the morning.

I have a feeling they will want me to take the hose off and bring it in though. 

What is involved in taking this hose off.  Still not sure which slide I'm dealing with. If someone can tell me what needs to come out for the front slide or  wardrobe slide  to access the other end I would greatly appreciate it
 
2003 U320 40 AGDS Build 6157 161K miles

Hampstead NC

Re: HWH pump leaking

Reply #9 –
You will have to follow the hose to see where it goes. There are 2 cylinders on each room. Each cylinder has 2 hoses going to it. Being that you said the bedroom slide is not staying closed, that would be my guess as to which side the hose goes to. If it is for the bedroom slide that hose is a long one. If it could be cut and a new end put on and then a coupler and put in that should work.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: HWH pump leaking

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Charlieboise –
I have a really good shop close by and will call them in the morning.

I have a feeling they will want me to take the hose off and bring it in though. 

What is involved in taking this hose off.  Still not sure which slide I'm dealing with. If someone can tell me what needs to come out for the front slide or  wardrobe slide  to access the other end I would greatly appreciate it
 
If the U320 is similar to our U270, access to the other end of the lines to the living room slide is fairly simple. On either side of the slide, inside the coach, there should be a vertical cloth covered panel that extends almost from the floor to the ceiling. The cloth covered panel is attached with Velcro; just pull it off. Behind it you should see a wooden panel held on by screws; they are square head screws like most on the Foretravels. Remove the panel and you will see the slide cylinders and hoses. I am not sure how the hoses run down to the basement, but probably just through holes in the floor. If it is one of those hoses, which are relatively short, I would replace the entire hose. My experience with hydraulic hoses is that once one bursts, there is a high likelihood of it bursting again after a new end is put on. If you remove the panels to access the hoses in the living room, be aware that there is an accordion cover on either end that attaches to the panels you will remove. They can be tricky to reattach, so just be patient. Also, take a look at the 110v electrical that runs to the slide while you have it apart. On ours, the flex conduit it runs in had cracked badly over the years and had to be replaced. If you replace it, try to find some flex conduit that is listed as highly flexible.

If it is the bedroom slide, I can't tell you much because we don't have one. Most likely, though, the hose runs from the bay with the pump through the center cable trough to the back of the coach. Maybe someone else who has worked on a bedroom slide can give you more information. It will be a lot of work, but if it were my coach, I would replace the entire hose even for the bedroom slide. I hope this helps.
Dave and Kathy Bennett
2004 U270
Build #6253
1600W Solar
700 AH Battle Born Lithium
2015 Jeep Wrangler

No matter what happens, remember you always get the trip out of it.

Re: HWH pump leaking

Reply #11 –
One other thing. If you replace a hose on a slide with a synchronization cylinder (the living room slide uses one; not sure about the bedroom), there is a specific procedure to synchronize the cylinders after you work on the system. The attached document should be right for your coach.

Dave and Kathy Bennett
2004 U270
Build #6253
1600W Solar
700 AH Battle Born Lithium
2015 Jeep Wrangler

No matter what happens, remember you always get the trip out of it.

Re: HWH pump leaking

Reply #12 –
Well the plot thickens. While dealing with the LR slide hose replacement plan I decided to look at the condition of the wardrobe slide hoses. 

Sure enough another hose has burst. This one originates on the pump extend solenoid. 

So one of two things has happened. Coincidence or possible over pressure situation.

I am going to replace the hoses running from the pump to the rooms.  My plan is to put a male coupler on the old hose at the room side and pull the old and new hose through from the bay.

If the documentation is complete I believe I can handle the synch cylinder synch and bleeding.


My biggest concern is opening the wardrobe slide to get an accurate pump oil level reading. If I cannot get that slide back in for some reason the coach will be held hostage in the storage building.

There is no emergency retract winch.  If necessary can I relieve the pressure at the solenoid and use winch straps to pull the room back in ?

What have others used to get a wardrobe slide back in on the 03 U320 ?

If my plan is faulty please let me know.  Thanks
2003 U320 40 AGDS Build 6157 161K miles

Hampstead NC
 

Re: HWH pump leaking

Reply #13 –
If you open the extend and retract solenoids for that room you should be able to push it back in. It is not very heavy.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins