Catastrophic Schwintec failure on interstate

[klassic]

How does the staked shaft fall through the spur gear???

After watching the Schwintek install video, I’m pretty confident I could replace one.

[Rock]

Klassic,
Like everything else they probable had a bad batch that were not straked enough. When they replaced your assy did they also replace the tracks? Top track screwed from side bottom from side and bottom. Did they totally remove the slide to fix yours. I noticed last night ( our last stop before back home) the rear of slide has moved back and super tight. You mentioned that little wheel is just a guide and should spin freely. All of mine never had been free. How would they move the slide up to relieve that pressure on wheel. The only way I can see is bigger rollers or to completely redrill the new assy to the FW wall a tad lower since rollers hold up the slide.
I just answered my one question. With slide in I can feel the screws on bottom of lower rail run all the way in. How can they get to them with out removing slide?

[klassic]

yes, new tracks…everything was new. Back in the same holes. The track has to go back in the same holes, as the bottom track can only be in one spot and the top track is a fixed distance from the bottom.
I have no clue how the pressure got relieved on the V roller. Maybe the side channel gets screwed into new holes based on how much the slide has sunk. (Only makes sense since everything is together when the new unit is put back in place)

Now the V roller doesn’t spin as freely as it did when they replaced it. But it’s obvious that if the slide sinks down, the V roller takes weight. So I’m waiting for my Schwintek rack to break again. Maybe I’ll just break it myself, I still have a year left on extended warranty, and I’ll get free winter storage at the dealer.

Watch the video on how to replace it. It looks pretty easy. ALMOST easy enough to pull out and inspect for worn parts and replace anything worn. They show how to do that too.

[Gary_LHC_Arizona]

My 2005 Jayco MH had removable adjustable locks that I placed on top of the slideouts when in the closed position to prevent accidental opening while traveling. Why are these no longer included? My 2015 Jayco Hybrid TT does not have them and I placed a 2x4 wood block in my closed slideout

[Rock]

Klassic,
Did they remove ur entire slide to get the bottom track off since screws are in bottom. With slide fully out about 2-3 screws are still under the slide between kitchen floor and maybe 1/2 to 3/4 inch gap from kitchen floor to track bottom.

[klassic]

There’s no screws on the underside of my track and any video I’ve watch shows now screws on the underside either.
The track just bends under the bottom of the slide and there’s one row of screws on the top of the track.
Show a picture of yours.

[Rock]

I will take a pic tomorrow. Even my bedroom slide bottom tracks have screws from the bottom. Both my slide bottom tracks the bottom bends 90 degrees goes under the slide and have screws up from the bottom. All my top tracks have screws thru the sides and lay flat on the slide.
Here are three pics. That rusted bump is one screw up from the bottom. Like I said both slide lower tracks bend under the slides and are mounted at very bottom. One of the other pics u can see the lower block twisted and track bent. The other pic shows the back or aft of the slide tight against the seal and sidewall like it pushed back when the front came out against the 70 MPH wind driving on the interstate.

[Rock]

Klassic
U sure about ur bottom track. I took some pics of my bedroom track u can see screws up from the bottom. Only difference on bedroom slide is when it comes out the FW wall is still underneath the mounting track so the drive rod cannot just fall out. My kitchen slide there is nothing underneath. The shaft can fall out the bottom like mine did.

[gunafulltime]

We are sorry this happened, and we are grateful y'all are okay.

[klassic]

Kitchen slide has no screws (pictures)
Bedroom slide DOES have screws. Odd
But there are no screws at the back of the bedroom tracks…the holes are empty.

In my picture below, of the different tracks, one is noted to be for a Pinnacle, I guess there are holes on the bottom of that one…?

There would be enough room, with the slide pulled in 8”, to get a grinder on those inside screws to cut the heads off without taking out the slide.
I would be on the fence, though, about forcing them to remove your slide to inspect EVERYTHING, instead of just having the system reinstalled with the slide shimmied back in place.
I would like to see all the rollers inspected, and a straight edge across the tops of all of them to see if it’s all flat, and press down on the fridge end to see if it flexes.
Just last week I used a laser across my slide floor, and I have either a big hump in the middle or the fridge end had dropped. I would say the fridge end dropped.

Either way, I would insist that they show you the results of their inspection about how flat the length of cantilever is and that all the rollers are good.
And you will probably have to insist that they replace the opposite rack too. I’m sure they will say there’s nothing wrong with that side. But now that it’s been rammed jammed by the slide coming over and probably had the staked rod made in the same batch as your failed one, and the gib rivets could have loosened. Get it all out.

I hope you don’t need your rig for the next few months. I feel for you Rock, you’ve certainly had your patience tested with this trailer.
I’m sure a professional well written letter to someone high up at Jayco, with a Cc to Lippert, noting all your trauma from the day your rim was melted to the hub wouldn’t hurt. I know their answer will be simply “your trailer is out of warranty”

[garywilson]

Was that Thursday 09/23?
If so my wife and I were wondering if you knew the slide was open. We were heading the other way from Missouri back to Texas.
We noticed the front slide closed, back slide open...
Did it open by itself?
------------
Oops, my wife said it was yesterday (Wednesday) in Oklahoma construction, not Thursday.

So, more than one open slide going down the road in the construction areas? Maybe the rough roads are an issue.

[Tireman9]

Is there a web site or document on preventive maintenance on the drive to prevent this or similar failure?

[klassic]

Originally Posted by Tireman9

Is there a web site or document on preventive maintenance on the drive to prevent this or similar failure?

Spray the gibs with CRC Power Lube…and pray every time you touch the button

[Rock]

That was probably me u seen and I could not get over because of the barricades. When I could finally get over was when I seen the sparks from the rod dragging. Forest River had a recall years ago and schwintec made a nylon block to screw in at bottom of column. This kept the shaft from disengaging motor. LCI still makes the kit but they told me it only was for Forest River and certain SN. LCI says to replace entire assy if shaft disengages from motor. I cannot find online another who had the whole freakin shaft fall out the bottom. When I came to a stop in the dirt the shaft was buried in the dirt and just under the tire. Had to back up to get it out of the dirt and tire. It bent the rod big time and bent lower track and jammed the rod into the lower spur gear. What a freakin nightmare. DW always has a bright side. She said at least it was at the end of our Glacier, Yellowstone, Teton and Estes Park trip and last few stops before home

[garywilson]

Your wife is right. Better at the end or before you start.

I'm thinking that was you I saw... hard not to see the slide in your mirror.

I hope it works out for you... they just don't make them like they used to (I don't think).

[Rock]

Interesting part was the construction zone was limited width. The pinnacle is 8.6 ft and slide was out a ft or more. I almost wish I did not see it out and hit a concrete barrier that would of taken care of all my issues.

[BxB62]

Huh?

[Dave A]

Originally Posted by Rock

On our way back to Fl from our west trip. In a work zone one lane I-40 in Arkansas. Look in mirror and front of kitchen slide is out a ft and sparks by tires. Slide is just missing concrete barrier. Thank god I was just at end of construction, pulled off but no real shoulder and big slope. Could only get about 2 ft off interstate or FW would of rolled over. Found forward schwintec drive shaft dropped to ground and bent back and jammed into the dirt. I could not move it and had no way to cut it. I back up FW about 2 ft and rod bent back out of the ground. Now I could push rod up some and I bent it and clamped it to slide skirting. So now slide is a ft out and cannot move cause rod is bent and jammed into the lower block. Drove 15 miles to our scheduled stop. Called every repair shop, dealer and mobile within 100 miles. Repair shops 3 months out, mobile repair non wanted to even come out. Tried everything to get shaft free so I could move slide. Next day went to Lowe’s and bought $250 dollars worth of cutting tools to cut the lower gib block out. The oscillation tool I bought with six metal blades finally cut the block where I used a sledgehammer and big punch to bust it out with the drive rod. Have two 2x4 cut to hold slide in. I can push it in and out about 18 inches while running back motor. We can now access the fridge and stove. I have a year left on my extended warranty and called them a tech called me back I sent him pic of the shaft touching the ground. He said he never heard of that happening and I told him I was gonna try and cut the block out. He agreed and I told him to document all of this for the claim.
So during this trip front closet rod broke clothes all over, water heater died, heater only blows warm air, bedroom 7 ft wood molding fell off and tore up head board, jacks will not self level and now this.

Reading your story just about made me have spasms. I had a 2016 North Point 377RLBH and did just about the same thing. I ended up getting some eye bolts screwed into the slide and used ratchet straps to pull it in and keep it in. Just out of warranty naturally, thought about burning it but traded it instead (not for another North Point). Had to have the entire slide mechanism replaced.

[Rock]

What did u trade it in for?

[dustyww]

Originally Posted by TWP723

Good Lord! I'd be ALLLLLLLLL over the phone.

Makes me wonder. Are some units just lemons? And some aren't? Is it REALLY because it was Friday at quitting time when they built it? Is it a particular shift that day? I mean I actually know people with the same model and haven't heard a peep out of them. I just don't get it.

Friday’s actually do have a significant reduction in quality of craftsmanship. Friday’s are responsible for billions of damages. This is just my opinion but I think Friday’s need to be called Twosday.
Look at everything two times.
And production in Twosdays should be limited to 2/3 of Tuesday’s productions. Just sayin