Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 14, 2025 ...

HWH Hydraulic ....Bleed after topping off?

September 09, 2014, 10:24:24 pm

  Pulled our 2000 U320  one slide 40 footer out of the shed today, and after running her for a 20 minute jog, got down to business packing for a beach trip in a couple of weeks.
   
      Attempted to extend slide, rumbling of the Hyd. pump was the only action achieved .      Checked fluid level, was not showing on the stick. But after topping off, still only have sound of pump when I attempt to extend.    Doesn't make sense to have to bleed air in this system, but at a loss at this point.    One more thing, the upper rear lock pin seems to have retracted.     

 Gotta be something I'm missing here!!!!        I love our Foretravel!!!!    97.24% of the time.

David 

Quote Selected

Re: HWH Hydraulic ....Bleed after topping off?

Reply #1 – September 10, 2014, 12:54:04 am

Off the top of my head, I would wonder if the solenoid valves were all tightly closed?  With one open, it could be preventing the pump from getting any pressure???

Quote Selected

Re: HWH Hydraulic ....Bleed after topping off?

Reply #2 – September 10, 2014, 12:59:00 am

I do know that from time to time, debris can prevent the solenoids from seating properly.  The place I would then go is to make sure the fluid level was good, then simply opening and closing each valve (screw the old type 1/4" nuts as directed...not too far so they disassemble, or open and close the newer type lever solenoids).  Even replacing a line, you don't have to bleed them according to James T.  Just exercise the slide a couple of times and the air will purge itself.

Quote Selected

Re: HWH Hydraulic ....Bleed after topping off?

Reply #3 – September 10, 2014, 02:14:09 pm

Thanks for the response Brad,  Going to try to "clear" solenoid seats of possible debris after work today.        should one try to cycle pump with t-handle loosened?  Flushing over the seat area to clear debris?            May just find out what a "non-slide" beach trip is all about......   

David

Quote Selected

Re: HWH Hydraulic ....Bleed after topping off?

Reply #4 – September 10, 2014, 03:28:50 pm

This is from Joe Portelli at HWH: 
"Before you change any of these valves you want to open both emergency releases on the valves to bleed all pressure down before removing them. It really doesn't matter if the room is in or out. "

I believe that I would simply open both of the solenoids (extend/retract of the room), since Joe's instructions show that wouldn't interfere with anything to have them all open.  Then I would run the pump very, very briefly to move a little fluid through the system with the valves not seated tightly.  A few seconds, in my mind.  Pressure cannot build to move anything this way, but the fluid will move. 

Then tighten the valves back up and see if the pressure builds and the slide starts moving.  I am assuming that you have already tried simply pressing the IN  button (even tho it appears all the way in), too, with the bladder deflated.

The 2002 Train does a lot of things differently, but I think things are similar enough that these methods would work on yours.  Since the pump IS trying to build pressure when you hit the switch, the problem would seem to me to be hydraulic rather than electronic.  Wish I knew more about the 2000 slides.  HWH, if you can't reach them (likely), does have a TON of reference materials on their website.  Even a primer on how hydraulics work in general.

Quote Selected

Re: HWH Hydraulic ....Bleed after topping off?

Reply #5 – September 10, 2014, 03:30:47 pm

Oh...and after having YEARS with my slide in, I'm sure you can still have a nice weekend at the beach!

Quote Selected

Re: HWH Hydraulic ....Bleed after topping off?

Reply #6 – September 10, 2014, 04:12:52 pm

Wh-wh-what's a slide?

Quote Selected

Re: HWH Hydraulic ....Bleed after topping off?

Reply #7 – September 10, 2014, 04:22:13 pm

Quote from: Twig – September 10, 2014, 04:12:52 pm

Wh-wh-what's a slide?

A painful pleasure.

Quote Selected