[billr]

Had to replace a slide ram on the off door side the other day. It was bypassing internally on extend. Symptoms were normal retract and very slow to creep extend. Was starting to happen over last month. Got worse. Had Same thing on the door side slide that was intermittent for a few years and got to the point of no extend.

Thought if anyone had these symptoms it may help. There are other possibilities like an obstruction or low voltage.

Maybe the replacement procedure I used may help too. Lippert's on the website manual was rather basic. Remove and install. ha

Before removing, need to relieve the extend pressure on all the slides. I made sure they were all out, then bump each sw for each slide to retract just a second. This relieved it. Not long enough to pressurize the retract side. The slides did relax a tad. I did leave the jacks down. They are on a separate valve.

With the slide extended and relieved measure the end nut bottom to end of thread on both ends and record for later. Also measure and record the space between back up nuts and end nut on piston end. This space has to be there.

Remove the end nuts and move the piston back up nuts to allow movement laterally.

Remove the hoses (3 on mine, two were on a T fitting) Only got maybe a few drops of fluid out. So relieving the pressure worked well.

Remove the ram.

Transfer the fittings and angle them the same. There are o-rings on the fittings, mine were in good shape, but not a bad idea to replace. Install the back up nuts on both ends. Set the distance for the nuts as measured and secure together on piston end. (new ram is retracted when installed.)

Install ram and fit nut on ram end and set to measurement recorded and lock the back up nut. The piston end will just be placed into the opening in frame.

Connect the hoses as removed. Careful not to over tighten.

Be sure the Hyd tank is at least half full with all the slides out and jacks down. When you extend the new ram, it will pull fluid to fill it from the tank. May need to add some before if its a bit low. Do not fill it.

Have someone inside bump the new ram out a bump at a time while you guide the ram out towards the flange. Be careful of hands and just bump it to position. The threaded end has to be positioned very well to get into the flange right. Once its out secure, install the end nut. Check the space on the backup nuts as measured. Adjust if required. If the locking feature of the two end lock nuts are not tight, replace the nuts. Home Depot has them.

Check the tank again Add fluid to a bit over half. Remember when all the rams and jacks are retracted it will return to the tank. Need about an inch or so at top to be full. If you remember where the level is normally when set up with everything is out then that is where you should be now.

Now you can exercise the slide and check that it works properly. Check for leaks.

I ran all the slides in and out a few times and they all worked good. Very little to no air in system with this procedure.

Bill