Slide Leak.

Topic: Slide Leak. (Read 1267 times) previous topic - next topic

Slide Leak.

June 21, 2013, 11:56:59 am

Good morning folks.

Got a slight leak in the main slide. Heavy rain here in Gillette and discovered this fresh water mark. It appears that the water, small seepage, is coming in from on top of the slide and dripping down onto the "valance"?. Since we have had this Ol' Girl we have not been exposed to much rain. Three questions: 1. how do I get that piece off so I can see the problem. 2. Shouldn't the air bladder seal so that water can not get in? 3. How do I repair? Thanks again for your input. Get one thing solved and another occurs. Ain't life grand.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #1 – June 21, 2013, 12:26:25 pm

Quote from: Carol & Scott – June 21, 2013, 11:56:59 am

Good morning folks.

Got a slight leak in the main slide. Heavy rain here in Gillette and discovered this fresh water mark. It appears that the water, small seepage, is coming in from on top of the slide and dripping down onto the "valance"?. Since we have had this Ol' Girl we have not been exposed to much rain. Three questions: 1. how do I get that piece off so I can see the problem. 2. Shouldn't the air bladder seal so that water can not get in? 3. How do I repair? Thanks again for your input. Get one thing solved and another occurs. Ain't life grand.

As a start.
You need to know if the bladder air pressure regulator is set to 12psi. You can do this bu adding an air gauge on the manifold.
You need to know if the bladder has a leak. Spray soapy water around the bladder and look for air bubbles.
You need to know if there is an air leak going to the bladder. Add a ball valve in between the bladder hose and incoming air hose under the slide. Fill the bladder close the ball valve and see if bladder leaks to isolate if it is the bladder or incoming air hose.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #2 – June 21, 2013, 12:27:15 pm

Not sure if your slide built in this regard the same as an 01. But here is an option if so

On the top of the slide there is a block, a cube sort of thing, and at the bottom of it is a drain hose....I am told, I have not seen it....and when the slide is open the block or assembly with the drain hole is open to any water that is not diverted by the awning and of course the pin is not in the hole to keep water out when the slide is open. If that drain line gets plugged with debris, as they can, then water accumulates.

That all I can think of except one other peculiar option. When you close the slide after a rain, there is probably rain water on the top of the slide. If you do not squeegee that water off or try to tilt the coach to drain, the water comes in on the slide as the bladder at that time is deflated.

Hope this helps

Mike

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #3 – June 21, 2013, 01:13:58 pm

The easiest thing to do is take off the header inside and run the slide out. You will seelight if the bladder is not sealing. Did this myself on my coach. If you see light then where is it. Then the fis is from there.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #4 – June 21, 2013, 01:16:50 pm

One source COULD be the holes for the locking pins. They must be caulked or whatever to make waterproof. Ours leaked and that was the cause.

Your's looks to be more bladder than locking pins. IS the water on the inside of the cabinet over the couch?

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #5 – June 21, 2013, 01:27:25 pm

Barry - Where do I find the hoses and stuff you showed in pic 1 & 2?

John S - How do I take the header off?

Bill? - There is no water in the cabinets.

It appears that I will have to remove the awning from above the slide. Is there a recommended procedure to do this? In looking at the awning it appears that I will have to remove the whole thing from the coach. Is that correct?

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #6 – June 21, 2013, 02:59:12 pm

Quote from: Carol & Scott – June 21, 2013, 01:27:25 pm

Barry - Where do I find the hoses and stuff you showed in pic 1 & 2?

Picture 1 is in the Utility Bay Drivers side 3
Picture 2 is inside the coach under the slide when the slide is in. Look under the accordion shade.
New Photo is L/R Slide Bladder Connection
Assuming yours is like mine.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #7 – June 21, 2013, 08:06:26 pm

I had buttons on the bottom of the header. You might have to go in from the side. It is the only real way to see the unit when you put it out.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #8 – June 21, 2013, 09:05:28 pm

Thanks Barry & John - We are on the road tomorrow, probably to the Bozeman area, not sure yet. Will stay for 3 to 4 nights. Will get into it then. I'm sure I'll have lots more questions when I get things opened up. Thanx again.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #9 – June 23, 2013, 12:13:19 pm

As a temporary fix I will acquire some 5/8" insulation and press into gap on the top of the slide, as was suggested by one of you grand folks, and tilt the coach a touch on the driver's side. I will attempt to address all of the thoughts listed above in the next day or two. On Monday I will contact FT and order the white rubber squeeges that attach to the channel above the slides. I am sure that replacing them will not eliminate the problem but the existing ones are old and cracking. It certainly can't hurt to replace them. Thanks again for your input.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #10 – June 23, 2013, 12:46:53 pm

Note: I removed the white squeegee and operated the slide. I could clearly see that the air bladder deflated and inflated. The top slide material is slightly wavy so the bladder contact points are not equal and maybe not touching the top of the slide in a couple of places at all. I must check air pressure in the bladder as Barry suggested. On my way to the hardware store to find some insulation that I can "stuff" in the opening for a temporary fix.

Barry - Is there a time that we might be able to connect via phone so I can better understand what you did and how you did it. Air pressure valves and gages.

Thanks in advance.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #11 – June 23, 2013, 02:48:56 pm

Is there a stainless steel grabber on the top of your slide. I added another one to my living room and it worked well. In the bedroom I shimmed up the rear corner a bit and the bladder made a better seal and no more water.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #12 – June 23, 2013, 05:16:40 pm

Quote from: Carol & Scott – June 23, 2013, 12:46:53 pm

Barry - Is there a time that we might be able to connect via phone so I can better understand what you did and how you did it. Air pressure valves and gages.

Thanks in advance.

Scott I sent you an email awhile ago with my phone number.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #13 – June 24, 2013, 12:43:16 pm

Ordered the wiper material from FT this AM. $1.00/ft. Ordering enough to do both slides. The wiper/squeegee mater pulled out of the track with no problem. I presume it will go in the same way. UPS ground.

I deflated the main slide this AM to visually check to determine if there was debris between the bladder and the slide. I found a broken zip tie on top of the slide in the area where contact might be made. I do not know if this was my problem but am sure I will know when it rains again. I will still take off the header, retract the slide and inflate the bladder to verify/check seal. I will monitor and........

Had a nice chat with Barry this AM - sent him some digital images for his perusal and commentary.....Am interested HOW and WHERE he placed his pressure gages on his slides to verify proper air pressure to slides.

Thanx all.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #14 – June 24, 2013, 01:40:59 pm

Quote from: Carol & Scott – June 24, 2013, 12:43:16 pm

Had a nice chat with Barry this AM - sent him some digital images for his perusal and commentary.....Am interested HOW and WHERE he placed his pressure gages on his slides to verify proper air pressure to slides.

Here is where you put the gauge

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #15 – June 24, 2013, 01:49:26 pm

Thanks Barry - Have a great day.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #16 – June 24, 2013, 04:18:24 pm

Nice labeling Barry.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #17 – June 24, 2013, 05:16:59 pm

Keep up the great investigative work Scott.
I'm just as eager as you to find the problem, as the leak you describe is similar to the leak I have on my slide.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #18 – June 24, 2013, 05:22:32 pm

When you take the header off is there an angled piece of metal that runs the top of the slide on the motorhome. That is where my slide grabs and pulls it up. THey grabbers are adjustable too. I do not know if the 02 has them but I would think they would have something.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #19 – June 24, 2013, 10:58:34 pm

Well - It's starting to rain. I guess we shall know soon if the zip tie was the culprit.

John S. - I will take off the header tomorrow and we shall see. I will post a pic of what I find.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #20 – June 24, 2013, 11:28:14 pm

Very, VERY interesting!!! We had TWO zip ties that caused our slide leak! They found them in Nac when we were having our TV remodeled.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #21 – June 25, 2013, 06:47:20 am

Wondered why they use zip ties on the bladder?

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #22 – June 25, 2013, 08:21:15 am

Quote from: Carol Savournin – June 24, 2013, 11:28:14 pm

Quote from: Carol & Scott – June 24, 2013, 12:43:16 pm
I deflated the main slide this AM to visually check to determine if there was debris between the bladder and the slide. I found a broken zip tie on top of the slide in the area where contact might be made. I do not know if this was my problem but am sure I will know when it rains again.

Very, VERY interesting!!! We had TWO zip ties that caused our slide leak! They found them in Nac when we were having our TV remodeled.

Thoughts as to the original source of the zip ties? Can you tell from the size? Around the wiring for the electrical in the slide (like for lighting)? Possibly around the window awning when it was originally installed?

Michelle

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #23 – June 25, 2013, 09:31:43 am

Hi Michelle - No clue as to what it was used for. The zip tie was black and the radius of the circle that the zip tie had was about 2.5". It was also cut so it was not a circle anymore. That slide was worked on prior to our ownership. A new bladder was replaced. Rained last nigh and no sign of leak or water stains.

Re: Slide Leak.

Reply #24 – June 25, 2013, 09:34:19 am

They zip tie the wires to the lock blocks but i do not know if 2002 has lock blocks.

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