tough turning knobs for slide out?

[traveler44]

Hi. I had to run one slide out by it self today. When I turned the finger knobs to close the other two they were very hard to turn both in and out. Does anybody know if it is okay to lubricate the threads on these and with what. I didn't want to mess up something that is so handy when I need it. Thanks Tom

 

[jnbhobe]

Tom; Are you sure the valves don't have a packing nut on them, If they do you can just back off the nut a 1/8th of a turn at a time till they turn easy but don't leak.

 

[Bobby A]

Mine are very hard to turn also, especially on a cold day when your hands are cold and you try to turn them. I thought this was normal because my previous unit did the same.

 

[Gizzy]

Had the same problem with ours, however, after several uses they loosened up and are now very easy. Guess they just had to get "broken in".

 

[Ray LeTourneau]

If you've recently opened or closed the slides, there is residual pressure on the system. This may cause the valves to be difficult to turn. Release the pressure by opening or closing the slides then try turning the valves as needed.

 

[TedS]

Those are hydraulic valves and do not have packing nuts like water valves. Do not loosen any nut. Cold seals make the valve stems hard to turn.

 

[JohnDar]

Mine have been tight to turn since day one. Keeps them from loosening when bouncing down the road, I guess.

 

[porthole]

Mine are also tight. I have a simple solution when I want to only move one slide. I operate the slides in the opposite direction for just a moment. Then the knobs turn real smooth and easy.

I don't understand why a needle valve (if it is a needle) would be so tight with pressure, but releasing the pressure works.

 

[traveler44]

Thanks! I have noticed that they are easier to turn after activating the switch one way or the other. Must have something to do with pressure in the system. I marked my switch so I know which is in and which is out now without running the pump to find out. Sure is handy to be able to run one slide out far enough to get in and sit down during a rest stop on the road.

 

[porthole]

I marked my switch so I know which is in and which is out now without running the pump to find out. Sure is handy to be able to run one slide out far enough to get in and sit down during a rest stop on the road.

The switch in the hydraulic pump compartment I'm guessing you are referring too.
I used a sharpie and did the same thing. My extra switch is right next to the two valves.

 

[JohnDar]

The switch in the hydraulic pump compartment I'm guessing you are referring too.
I used a sharpie and did the same thing. My extra switch is right next to the two valves.

I should do that, too, since I think mine is upside down from the one inside and rotated 90-deg. out of view. But, I prefer to use the one inside since the one time I broke a door was when I was using the outside switch while doing some maintenance at the storage yard. Fortunately, the mirror in it didn't break or I'd still be sweating another six years.

 

[porthole]

Isince the one time I broke a door was when I was using the outside switch while doing some maintenance at the storage yard.

Been there - done that and got the t-shirt, well actually no t-shirt, but I do have a new cabinet door.
Lucky for me I guess, I just happened to have had a door the right size in the basement for a future project.

 

[JohnDar]

Been there - done that and got the t-shirt, well actually no t-shirt, but I do have a new cabinet door.
Lucky for me I guess, I just happened to have had a door the right size in the basement for a future project.

Fortunately, I was able to put it back together. Documented in an earlier post detailing my dumbness.

 

[porthole]

I thought I was good when I first looked at the door - the knob caught the slide and separated the rail and stile at the joint. Was all good until I looked closer and saw the 3/4 the way through the raised panel was glued in and it split.