2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Topic: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment?? (Read 2126 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #25 – February 28, 2022, 12:38:33 pm

Quote from: dlkj07 – February 28, 2022, 12:16:24 pm

Thanks Scott,

That's probably a good reason to add the gauge like you did for easy reference and trouble shooting. 👍

I actually want a gauge in view next to the control panel to indicate current state both for daily use and vacuum verification during slide movement. They make some 1/16 diameter line and this would reduce the volume, however from the front slide hose to the control panel is quite close. Panel mounted combination gauge, preferably small diameter.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sww-82340?seid=srese1&gclid=CjwKCAiAgvKQBhBbEiwAaPQw3AmQgiZ18LInXaqcd2nvRcwFimr19jf92GK0-jFrPeOtchmPms7AIBoCFLAQAvD_BwE

Bosch gauge comes with 1/8 tubing and backlight
Amazon.com: Actron SP0F000050 Bosch Style Line 2" Mechanical Vacuum/Boost...

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Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #26 – February 28, 2022, 03:18:42 pm

My dash volt meter quit working (great/blue box issue) so I replaced it with a pressure gauge connected to the HWH tank. Since the voltage and the transmission temperature are shown on VMSpc you could replace the temp gauge with a pressure/vacuum gage in it's place. I already replaced the non-functioning front and rear service tank pressure gauges dit direct connection gauges.

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #27 – March 19, 2022, 05:45:36 pm

For those of you that have been following along and helping out on my slide situation, here's a video that I hope helps show my situation and a possible solution from all you fine folks.

Slide Video

I'm hoping this is just an adjustment issue and I can adjust the front of the slide to retract evenly with the rear and solve the problem.

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #28 – March 19, 2022, 06:30:07 pm

Quote from: dsd – February 25, 2022, 07:26:50 pm

With the side opened you can look underneath at the front and the back and see a opening. Your rams are inside. I would reccomend learning the system in the HWH manuals. Very similar to the 600 but actually a 680. Picture shows actuator with vertical adjustment shims and centering guide blocks. Guide roller in the rear.

Scott,
So now that I have this open and I can see where the vertical adjustment is, if I want to raise the slide up slightly so it doesn't drag on the bottom would I add a shim here?

It almost looks like you can just turn the bolt and adjust or am I wrong and you have to add or subtract shims to make adjustment here?

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #29 – March 19, 2022, 06:34:09 pm

That is NOT normal. The front ram should be bolted to the coach floor and should definitely not move like in the video!!! You probably have had a water leak into the floor area under the front actuator (happens if the older slide bladder deflates allowing water in enter), mine has wood rot but steel looks sound. The plywood floor makes up a structural component of these early slide mechanisms. Remove the pullout cabinet between the slide box and driver seat and pull up the carpet underneath...tell us what you find.

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #30 – March 19, 2022, 06:54:39 pm

So I couldn't open video. But the actuator should not be free from floor. The forward one is accessible by pulling counter top up, Velcro downed. Square head screws removed and you should be able to remove the top. Once the top is off there is more square head screws that hold surrounding panel. Once those remove you can side off the end. At that point the end cap can be removed to access floor mount bolts. It does take a bit to sort out. Do not operate till actuator is secured. Damage will result.
So the vertical adjustment is critical to the entire assembly being mounted firm to the floor. The big nut on the rod end is not the vertical adjustment. It's done with the two 1/4-20 bolts and shims from out side bottom. Slide must be open to change.

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #31 – March 19, 2022, 07:33:10 pm

Bracket in circle mounted to floor. Arrow points to pivot point and scissors out from there without effecting vertical height

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #32 – March 19, 2022, 07:52:16 pm

Scott,

Your picture is hard to figure out because your slide is removed. Is this the same with my slide extended. This is from outside under the slide.

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #33 – March 19, 2022, 09:03:10 pm

The two bolt heads you can see sticking down in your pictures are the same two bolts in Scotts picture...his view is just from the other side since his slide was removed at the time. You can see two of your shims below the silver piece in your pictures.

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #34 – March 19, 2022, 09:20:24 pm

And the assembly is scissored out. Yes the same. Mine was fully retracted and lock pins also retracted so as to get more room to work on bladder seal. During movement those two bolts and shims maintain the height of the slide in conjunction with those roller shown in one of the photos prior on the side of the actuator assembly . This keeps vertical position in balance with the slide, with glide block on the carpet. So found a picture with extended with Fourdayoff Jim

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #35 – March 20, 2022, 12:09:17 am

Here's another video, looks like I found why the arm mount is moving in my earlier video...not looking good for me.

Microsoft services

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #36 – March 20, 2022, 10:34:32 am

dlkj, looks like you found your issue. Very unfortunate. I hope the P.O. can sleep well at night. Please keep us updated on your progress. Good luck.

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #37 – March 20, 2022, 11:52:12 am

Well that doesn't look good. Sorry to see these issues. I'd suggest that the damage to the inner fender is not the tire hitting it now, but rather the PO had a blowout at some point which then throws the tread all around and will beat all that stuff up pretty bad. Mine has some marks from my blowout, but my inner fender didn't break. Looks like yours is broken, then driving in water, the tire is throwing water into that area which eventually rots it away.

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #38 – March 20, 2022, 12:46:33 pm

Quote from: dlkj07 – March 20, 2022, 12:09:17 am

Here's another video, looks like I found why the arm mount is moving in my earlier video...not looking good for me.

Microsoft services

Remember that the human brain has a natural tendency to assume the worst case scenario, so hang in there and see this through. Everyone always says "the nice thing about FTs is that you can repair everything". I think you're about to prove that true or false.

Regarding the airbag: most of us have marks above our tires like that, where it rests on the tire. The hole is not normal but the marks/indentation are. There isn't an "air bag adjustment" for when the coach is at rest but there is for when it's in travel mode. You should have roughly 8.5" from top plate to bottom plate when in travel mode - if not, you need to adjust your ride height control valves. You have bigger fish to fry right now though. Good luck!

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #39 – March 20, 2022, 01:08:35 pm

In light of my recent discovery of the rusted out frame above the driver's side wheel, does anyone have any recommendations for who I could take this to out here on the west coast. I'd love to drive it to the mother ship but that's just too far. Unfortunately we still work and can't get that much time off, so hopefully there's someone closer that would have the experience to do something like this. I don't have the dough right now anyway so this will be awhile out before I can get to it.
Might just fill the voids with expandable foam for now to keep any more water from entering. Obviously I can't fix the slide issue until I get in there and see the extent of the damage.

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #40 – March 20, 2022, 01:13:07 pm

Quote from: Elliott – March 20, 2022, 12:46:33 pm

Remember that the human brain has a natural tendency to assume the worst case scenario, so hang in there and see this through. Everyone always says "the nice thing about FTs is that you can repair everything". I think you're about to prove that true or false.

Regarding the airbag: most of us have marks above our tires like that, where it rests on the tire. The hole is not normal but the marks/indentation are. There isn't an "air bag adjustment" for when the coach is at rest but there is for when it's in travel mode. You should have roughly 8.5" from top plate to bottom plate when in travel mode - if not, you need to adjust your ride height control valves. You have bigger fish to fry right now though. Good luck!

Thanks for the vote of confidence, I was going to check my ride height and then research how to adjust the control valves and also where to take an accurate measurement once in travel mode just to make sure I'm not rubbing up there too much.

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #41 – March 20, 2022, 01:19:38 pm

Tire should NEVER rub the top of the wheel well while driving/while at ride height.

Check/adjust rear ride height first, then front. Be sure coach is level and that you have sufficient room under the coach. I drive all wheels up on two 2X10".

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #42 – March 20, 2022, 02:07:06 pm

Quote from: dlkj07 – March 20, 2022, 01:08:35 pm

Does anyone have any recommendations for who I could take this to out here on the west coast.

Temecula Valley RV is an authorized Foretravel service center and has had pretty good reviews in the past. I have not personally used them though.

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #43 – March 20, 2022, 03:17:34 pm

Really sorry to hear how this is turning out. Yes the 2001 will rest on the tires. IFS is a complete unknown to me so yours may be different. If you put in gear before you are raised up they will drag. For what its worth I've owned my coach since 2020 and have yet to actually use the slide since purchase. It finally does work and we will use next trip for sure. Point being is they are still usable till you get to a point were a repair can be accomplished. Get it retracted and locked and dont worry about it till its time. No reason not to use the coach. And a added bonus is you will appreciate the slide even more when you can once again use it. Definitely get any waterproofing completed and any needed structural repairs completed.
Scott

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #44 – March 20, 2022, 04:27:53 pm

I had one of my wheel wells wear through but caught it before any water got in.
I fiberglassed it and all the others and then epoxied it with a grafite mix which seems
to wear really well.

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #45 – March 20, 2022, 08:42:26 pm

Quote from: dsd – March 20, 2022, 03:17:34 pm

Really sorry to hear how this is turning out. Yes the 2001 will rest on the tires. IFS is a complete unknown to me so yours may be different. If you put in gear before you are raised up they will drag. For what its worth I've owned my coach since 2020 and have yet to actually use the slide since purchase. It finally does work and we will use next trip for sure. Point being is they are still usable till you get to a point were a repair can be accomplished. Get it retracted and locked and dont worry about it till its time. No reason not to use the coach. And a added bonus is you will appreciate the slide even more when you can once again use it. Definitely get any waterproofing completed and any needed structural repairs completed.
Scott

Definitely just need to take a breath and reset.

We have a trip planned this weekend with family crashing on the fold out couch so we have to use the slide at least one more time. I'll just make sure I help it along the best I can to relieve some of the pressure on that main mounting point.
The marks made by the tires rubbing are on both sides and we're definitely happening at speed. I dont think it's rubbing now but I'm still going to look up my travelling ride height for the front and rear and make sure it's good 👍

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #46 – March 20, 2022, 09:03:24 pm

Adjusting ride height is mostly about getting the coach up to where you can crawl under the front.

The actual adjusting is really quick. And, the rears can be done without crawling under.

Also, in terms of tire to wheel well clearance, verify that the tires you have ARE the size speced on the GVWR plaque. A taller tire can rub even with everything else to spec.

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #47 – March 20, 2022, 10:28:49 pm

So again the IFS s complete unknown, on the 2001 thestock tire touches the wheel well with The bags deflated. On the 2002 they do not touch by nearly two inches when bags flat and the 295,75r/ 22.5 tires. Fourdayoff Jim's coach for example. I do have the taller and wider tires on my coach as many others do and it's a non issue. To go one step father I even have axle limit switches to indicate when axle is very close to bottoming out. They do occasionally indicate the axle is about to touch on big freeway bumps at speed but have shown no indication of scrubbing inner upper fenderwells to date. As intended IMO it makes the coach more stable if it is relaxed setting on the tires parked. Also I would personally resist using the slide any more. If you get it hung up and sprung it will expeditionally increase repair costs. Would be beyond my skill level to Repair. It's just not worth the risk IMO.
Scott

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #48 – March 22, 2022, 12:26:16 pm

Just so I know, is this scissor arm mounted to the metal frame or is there plywood involved here too? Pictures for reference.

Re: 2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

Reply #49 – March 22, 2022, 12:43:44 pm

So im guessing those photos are from underneath. Never actuallly looked to know. Sorry. Can look later todays when I get home if you haven't found out. It certainly rests on top on plywood
Scott

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