Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Living Room Slideout Bladder Replacement (Read 2272 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Living Room Slideout Bladder Replacement

Reply #25 –
Did you locate your front end clunk ???
Jimmy
2003 U295 3620

Re: Living Room Slideout Bladder Replacement

Reply #26 –
Quote from: Travelin' Man –
We may have dodged the bullet this time.  What looked like a tear in the bladder apparently isn't.  I checked it carefully last night with a flash light and do not see a tear anywhere.  Additionally,  the bladder is completely sealed now.  Thinking it may have been not enough air pressure
so the bladder wasn't fully inflating on a radiused corner
with the largest reveal. 

"Normally" if a slide bladder has a leak, the aux compressor will run and run and run.  Now, if it was fully inflated and you saw light around it, I would have Isaac check if he can to make sure the adhesive tape that holds the bladder in place hasn't failed.  IIRC, George Hatfield had that happen with his some years ago.  Slide Service
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: Living Room Slideout Bladder Replacement

Reply #27 –
Quote from: Jimmyjnr –
Did you locate your front end clunk ???

No,  but they tightened two axle mounting bolts that were a tad loose.  The crew at Old Town were really knowledgeable and helpful, especially Isaac, who  worked on the slide out problem,  test drove the coach and then went underneath and inspected the front end.  He didn't want payment for his work, but we insisted.

I'd say Old Town Coach will be a major player in Coach Buck City soon.

Re: Living Room Slideout Bladder Replacement

Reply #28 –
MOT had our coach bladder in stock, it is the 160 inch slide.  There are several size options on the LR slide. 

The block has to be replaced as the new design bladder is a different and more durable material than the original and takes less pressure to inflate, and it also has a different diameter fitting to the block. 

Our leak was only manifested by a failure of the top corner of he slide bladder to stay full.....it would leak down and you could see the outside sky over the period of about an hour, then the aux compressor came on.  Another tell tale sign was the length of time to bring the third tank to full pressure.  At the higher pressure, the more the leak.  You can be fooled....the side of the slide, that bladder, seemed firm but it was going out.    One easy test.....fill the tank, then shutoff the valve to the bladder....watch the pressure, it may take several hours but going down at all is a leak at the bladder or the valve or in the block.  Spray soapy water to find it.

mike
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Living Room Slideout Bladder Replacement

Reply #29 –
Mike,  you must have a gauge that indicates pressure?
I put one on my bedroom slide bladder last year when having a problem and I'm planning to put one on the living room bladder when I get back home, then I will try the leak down test.

Re: Living Room Slideout Bladder Replacement

Reply #30 –
T-man, we have one slide.  The gauge is at the aux compressor and monitors the third air tank, the tank that supplies air to the bladder and leveling.

I normally would drop from 85 psi full to about 65 psi which was the trigger point to re-pressurize.

With the small leak, it dropped from 85 to about 78 psi in four minutes, but the rate of drop seemed to decrease but in an hour or two had to refill.  To continue the stay where we were, i turned off the valve to cyt tge leak out of the system and thus keep air to leveling.

Others may have used a better way.  I thought it a bad idea to let the aux compressor continue connected to the bladder leak for if the leak became so large that the compressor ran all the time, it would fail.  Replacement is very expensive.  I did put the bladder back in the system tbree weeks later to deflate it.

Hope this helps but note we have an 01 and your system may operate differently.

Mike
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Living Room Slideout Bladder Replacement

Reply #31 –
Quote from: Michael & Jackie –
MOT had our coach bladder in stock, it is the 160 inch slide.  There are several size options on the LR slide. 

The block has to be replaced as the new design bladder is a different and more durable material than the original and takes less pressure to inflate, and it also has a different diameter fitting to the block. 

Our leak was only manifested by a failure of the top corner of he slide bladder to stay full.....it would leak down and you could see the outside sky over the period of about an hour, then the aux compressor came on.  Another tell tale sign was the length of time to bring the third tank to full pressure.  At the higher pressure, the more the leak.  You can be fooled....the side of the slide, that bladder, seemed firm but it was going out.    One easy test.....fill the tank, then shutoff the valve to the bladder....watch the pressure, it may take several hours but going down at all is a leak at the bladder or the valve or in the block.  Spray soapy water to find it.

mike
When did they have it in stock? I have called them a couple times looking for one and they have not had for a few weeks.. Last piece of the puzzle so I can start using my motorhome.. bought in June and its been in the shop waiting on parts or repairs since

Re: Living Room Slideout Bladder Replacement

Reply #32 –
David, Wrote more about this work in bladder repair and remod work that was last month.  It began with an appointment for September 6.    a day or two before taking the coach in, I met with them to review the 20 items I had.  In that review they asked me to measure the slide.  They were not sure it a bladder leak, but when got it in and demonstrated what I thought to be a leak they agreed.  However, the day or two before we delivered the coach, and I armed with the slide measurement, they checked and had that size in inventory there.

I gather from those two or three days measuring in advance, they keep some in inventory but most certainly not all.  Just in September James Johnson had done ten coaches with bladder issues and that was with a few days still left in the month.  With so many years and sizes of slides, I imagine it just quite lucky if they had mine in stock.

mike
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Living Room Slideout Bladder Replacement

Reply #33 –
In fairness to Foretravel, MOT and others who have been around longer than we have, the real reason for not having the bladders on the shelf is that HWH has been having some QC issues for some time now.  HWH is a great company and over the years have shown a commitment to quality. 

My understanding regarding the bladders is that the chemical compound traditionally used to create the material the bladder is made of was altered a few years ago.  I do not know if HWH makes the material or purchases it from another manufacturer - but never-the-less a problem was created because of the chemical make-up of the bladder material.  Why change the formula that's been working well for so long?  I have no idea why it was changed, but to give HWH the benefit of the doubt (which they deserve) there must have been some logic behind it. 

What I have seen over the years is that the bladders have held up very well as far as the quality of the material itself goes.  The majority of the failures are caused by some type of debris creating a small puncture or tear.  In some cases there can be a problem created during the installation of the bladder.  For example, the channels the bladder rests in may have a small metal shaving that is overlooked during the installation of the bladder.  The metal shaving may be there for months or years before it creates an issue.  Regardless, the problem eventually is created by tiny, sharp debris.  The bladder design and material obviously were not meant to withstand this type of trauma.  The point is that TYPICALLY the material has not been an issue.  As many reading this know, there are still a lot of coaches with original bladders that are 10 - 15yrs old.  This is mainly because the material itself has held up very well without any external factors. 

Once the chemical makeup of the material used was altered a few years ago the actual material became a problem.  Even if the installation was done 100% perfectly and the bladder was never in contact with any foreign objects before, during or after installation, the material itself began to fail.  For the first time the material the bladder was made of became the problem - in many cases not even being able to withstand the standard psi required to cause full inflation.  HWH became aware of the issue (doesn't take long with the sudden spike in brand new slide bladders leaking) and began working on it.  They are putting out good bladders now, but I believe the QC process is slower and more thorough.  I believe they are testing and doing all they can to ensure quality before sending the product out, but all of this has caused them to be backed up still today.  When you consider the higher number of faulty bladders out there needing replacement and the backlog of bladders needed for new coaches, you can see their predicament.  Either they speed things up and keep up with the demand or they take their time to ensure each bladder produced meets their standard and the standard all of us are used to. 

I do know that FOT has a handful of bladders of various sizes, but they do not have every size right now.  The only thing you can do is call and give them the coach number.  Otherwise it could take 6 weeks or more to get one in.  I'm sure HWH will eventually get caught up and it will be business as usual.  We will be keeping bladders in stock eventually, and I'm sure MOT and FOT will have better availability soon as well.  I hope this information helps and does not cause too much confusion :)

-Lance

Re: Living Room Slideout Bladder Replacement

Reply #34 –
Quote from: Old Town Motorcoach –

I do know that FOT has a handful of bladders of various sizes, but they do not have every size right now.  The only thing you can do is call and give them the coach number.

-Lance

Tried that every week for the past 3 weeks and they have nothing.. No bedroom anyways..

Hope something gives soon.. Thank you for the explanation on the subject.. Great Post!!

Re: Living Room Slideout Bladder Replacement

Reply #35 –
"HWH now requires that the Bladder manifold be replaced with the bladder".

For my education, is this the manifold block in the "basement" where the compressor is located?  The one with the shut off ball valve?  Or is it some other item?

Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Living Room Slideout Bladder Replacement

Reply #36 –
Yep.  That's the one.  👍
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320