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Topic: Slide air seal doesn't deflate - (now it does) (Read 940 times) previous topic - next topic

Slide air seal doesn't deflate - (now it does)

Had a storm here last week, coach parked outside my shop, slide out. Thought I should retract the slide, went through the normal routine, seal wouldn't deflate. Park brake was on, ignition on, room control key on, wait 40 seconds and amber light came on as usual. However, after the amber light comes on we look for daylight before extending or retracting slide. No daylight and didn't hear compressor.

Searched the forum posts, found a 1-21-11 post from George Stoltz describing similar problem. In his case the air seal manifold was faulty, apparently his compressor was working.

Coach has the 680 series HWH controls. Checked the compressor. It's not a Thomas and I see no 15amp fuse. With ignition off and room control key off, have 12v at one terminal on relay on compressor, no juice at the second terminal that provides the red wire (power?) to the compressor.

With Molly at the controls, me in the bay with the compressor, ignition on and room control key on, hear some air escaping, hear a relay? click, but now no juice at either terminal on the relay on the compressor.

Talked to Mark at FOT, about 4:30 Texas time. He said it didn't make sense that I had power to one terminal with ignition off and room control key off, said should have power to both terminals when room control key on. Suggested I check the HWH circuit breaker in the electrical bay. Found the breaker, pressed the button on the side, nothing. Not sure what one of these breakers would look like if tripped, but this breaker seemed set the same as the rest.

Will talk to Mark again tomorrow. Any suggestions in the meantime?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Mike & Molly Patronick
2001 U320 40'
2011 Forester

Re: Slide air seal doesn't deflate

Reply #1 –
Had similar problem on my 2001 U295 about three weeks ago.
Pushed the  HWH reset button on panel left of drivers seat and the seal deflated and all was well.
'02 U295 36'
Build #5937

 SKP#104358
Motorcade#17428

Re: Slide air seal doesn't deflate

Reply #2 –
Hi Tom
Looked but couldn't find a reset button. I looked at the references on Barry Beams website, looks like the reset switch is on the hwh 2000 series but not the hwh 680 series like mine. Probably a reset procedure somewhere but haven't found it.
Did the reset activate your compressor?
Mike & Molly Patronick
2001 U320 40'
2011 Forester

Re: Slide air seal doesn't deflate

Reply #3 –
Your compressor needs to run to deflate the slide.  I wonder if that is the issue.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Slide air seal doesn't deflate

Reply #4 –
John
I'm sure the compressor not running is at least one issue. Not sure whether compressor is dead or blown fuse, bad pressure switch or bad relay or bad controller or just a loose wire somewhere.
Be nice if I understood how these systems work.
Mike & Molly Patronick
2001 U320 40'
2011 Forester

Re: Slide air seal doesn't deflate

Reply #5 –
Mike,

I think this is the manual for the 680 series you have, assuming no tag axle (and assuming you don't already have a copy)

http://hwhcorp.com/ml21000.pdf

the collection of Foretravel manuals is on the HWH site here:  HWH Operators Manuals for Foretravel
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: Slide air seal doesn't deflate

Reply #6 –
Michelle
Thanks but this is one of the manuals I had already managed to locate. The little I can decipher of the schematics is helpful but I don't understand enough to puzzle out an answer.
Would be nice if HWH provided an alternate approach to applying vacuum to the slide seal the way they provide an emergency procedure for pulling in the slide.
Mike
Mike & Molly Patronick
2001 U320 40'
2011 Forester

Re: Slide air seal doesn't deflate

Reply #7 –
Quote from: morninghill –
Had a storm here last week, coach parked outside my shop, slide out. Thought I should retract the slide, went through the normal routine, seal wouldn't deflate. Park brake was on, ignition on, room control key on, wait 40 seconds and amber light came on as usual. However, after the amber light comes on we look for daylight before extending or retracting slide. No daylight and didn't hear compressor.


You can manually deflate seal. Care will need to be taken if seal is manually deflated.
(Remove air hose to bladder. It will not deflate but will relieve air pressure) allowing you to bring it in.
HWH Emergency Retract Room Procedures
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: Slide air seal doesn't deflate

Reply #8 –
Barry
I saw in the George Stoltz thread that its OK to do this occasionally. He used a soap solution to help lubricate the process. Is there a way to provide vacuum when the hose to the air seal is disconnected?
I have this vision of using duct tape to connect a vacuum cleaner to the system (just joking, but the principle is the same).
Mike & Molly Patronick
2001 U320 40'
2011 Forester

Re: Slide air seal doesn't deflate

Reply #9 –
Quote from: morninghill –
Barry
I saw in the George Stoltz thread that its OK to do this occasionally. He used a soap solution to help lubricate the process. Is there a way to provide vacuum when the hose to the air seal is disconnected?
I have this vision of using duct tape to connect a vacuum cleaner to the system (just joking, but the principle is the same).
If it is just for this one emergency to bring it in I dont think you need to be concerned since there will be no pressure in the bladder.
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: Slide air seal doesn't deflate

Reply #10 –
Sorry Mike, I have the 2000 series, should of checked before I posted. :-[
'02 U295 36'
Build #5937

 SKP#104358
Motorcade#17428

Re: Slide air seal doesn't deflate - (now it does)

Reply #11 –
I think Tom had the important part of the answer. We don't have a reset switch but as HWH added one in later slide systems, must have needed it. To try to reset the system, started over, started the engine, let the tanks air up and travel light come on. Released and reset brake. With engine running, releveled coach. Turned engine off. Turned room control switch on. Slide deflated normally. Ran to tell Molly, she immediately deflated me. Reminded me we needed to extend and retract slide to confirm all is well. We did and all is well - sort of.

Although the slide extended and retracted fine, it did this with no help from the 12v compressor which still doesn't run. With the room control switch on I now have 12v to both terminals on the relay on the compressor, but still doesn't run. More work to do here, will try wiring directly to a 12v battery. If no joy, will call HWH to find out just what compressor we have. When I talked to Mark at FOT, he said HWH  supplied different compressors. He said we have the small one, others have the larger, the Thomas.

We did learn we don't HAVE to have the 12v compressor but if we don't have it will have to use the engine compressor if the tanks have leaked down.
Mike & Molly Patronick
2001 U320 40'
2011 Forester