White rollers under bedroom slide

[RVFun4Us]

Noticed today while my DW was extending the bedroom slide that the three white rollers under the slide were not moving as the slide extended. The slide was just gliding over the top of the rollers. Since this is the first time I have noticed this, I am not sure whether this is typical or a problem. I would presume the rollers should be moving as the slide extends or retracts. Am I correct?

 

[NHCelt]

I noticed the same thing on mine. I would think a roller should roll, but the fix seems like it would be worse than the problem since the slide works fine. Love to see more comments...

 

[RVFun4Us]

I posted a question to Heartland Customer Service to ask them whether the rollers should be moving when extending/retracting. Will let you know what they tell me.

 

[NHCelt]

Thanks!

 

[RVFun4Us]

After several back and forths with Heartland Customer Service, the response was yes indeed, the rollers should be rolling. Here is the fix they suggested:

"I just spoke to the Service Center, to take pressure off the slide rollers, they use 2 x 4’s, make the shape of a “T”. One 2 x 4 flat against the floor close to the side wall of the unit, the second 2 x 4, vertical, one side against the flat 2 x 4 that is against the floor, the other on a bottle jack. Raise the jack just enough to take the pressure off the slide rollers. Then the take silicone spray with the small “straw” to direct the spray in a small area, spray the rollers, ( at the ends ) when the rollers will move, turn the rollers slowing while spraying, Dirt, dust, grime will build up."

Don't know yet if I want to tackle this myself. Has anyone else jacked up their bedroom slide? My main concern are the cables. Do not want to get them off track. Also, worried about mis-aligning the slide itself by jacking. So may rely on a dealer to fix. The indentations in the slide bottom they say is normal wear. Not much of a groove, just slight but I am sure the non-rolling rollers did not help.

 

[cookie]

I don't think you need to worry about cables or any other problems when jacking up your slide. You only need to jack it up a little bit, just enough to take the pressure off the rollers.
At some point in time I have jacked up all of my slides for one reason or another and there never was a problem after.

Peace
Dave

 

[NHCelt]

RVFun4Us... Any luck on this?

Sent from my XT1096 using Tapatalk

 

[RVFun4Us]

RVFun4Us... Any luck on this?

Sent from my XT1096 using Tapatalk

No, not yet. Just got back yesterday from an RV trip. Now that we have it home, I will tackle it and post the results.

 

[RVFun4Us]

I tried the suggested fix today with the 2 X 4s and lifted the slide to get to the rollers. Sprayed silicone spray into each end plus between the individual rollers. They spun freely so no problem there. Then after removing the 2 X 4s and jack, I tested the bedroom slide in and out about five times and they still won't roll. A couple of them moved a little, then stopped. So guess I need more suggestions from the Service Center on what might be the problem. Maybe the slide is putting too much pressure on the rollers and needs adjusting? Or maybe where the rollers have been gliding instead of rolling under the slide has created a slick spot thus causing the same problem as what was mentioned by the service department before if there was wax/polish on the underside of the slide. Maybe the continual non-movement of the rollers has caused the same type of problem because it does have a glaze where the rollers should be moving.

So emailed Heartland today and asked for further guidance. I wonder if the continued non-movement of the rollers would eventually cause damage to the underside of the slide?

 

[NHCelt]

Good try...be interested to see what they have to say....mine are still not moving. Don't think that they ever have.

Dave

 

[murry135]

Good try...be interested to see what they have to say....mine are still not moving. Don't think that they ever have.

Dave

Having same issue here lets keep in touch.

 

[CDN]

I just noticed the same thing yesterday. Some Sealant was gumming up the works. Cleaned all the sealant off the rollers and bottom of the slide. I lubricated the rollers, let sit for day. Reopened and the rollers work just fine now,

 

[padre44]

Mine had some of the rubber gasket getting caught and stopping the rolling. Dealer trimmed a little off and that cured it. Bad design.

 

[JohnD]

I'm going to have to watch ours . . .

I don't see any wear patterns on the bottom of the slide, although there are roller marks.

 

[farside291]

I tried the suggested fix today with the 2 X 4s and lifted the slide to get to the rollers. Sprayed silicone spray into each end plus between the individual rollers. They spun freely so no problem there. Then after removing the 2 X 4s and jack, I tested the bedroom slide in and out about five times and they still won't roll. A couple of them moved a little, then stopped. So guess I need more suggestions from the Service Center on what might be the problem. Maybe the slide is putting too much pressure on the rollers and needs adjusting? Or maybe where the rollers have been gliding instead of rolling under the slide has created a slick spot thus causing the same problem as what was mentioned by the service department before if there was wax/polish on the underside of the slide. Maybe the continual non-movement of the rollers has caused the same type of problem because it does have a glaze where the rollers should be moving.

So emailed Heartland today and asked for further guidance. I wonder if the continued non-movement of the rollers would eventually cause damage to the underside of the slide?

Do you think that maybe the silicone is getting on the surface of the rollers and making them slick. Try a spray lubricant on the roller like a dry graphite that we spray on the slide mechanism. I use the silicone on my slide seals because it keeps them slick so they won't stick to the surface of the slide when extending and retracting. I spray my rollers on the bedroom slide at the same time I spray the slide mechanism.

 

[RVFun4Us]

Do you think that maybe the silicone is getting on the surface of the rollers and making them slick. Try a spray lubricant on the roller like a dry graphite that we spray on the slide mechanism. I use the silicone on my slide seals because it keeps them slick so they won't stick to the surface of the slide when extending and retracting. I spray my rollers on the bedroom slide at the same time I spray the slide mechanism.

I was having problems before spraying any silicone spray on the roller ends. That is why I used the lubricant. I have not tried dry graphite but may if I can't get them to roll.

- - - Updated - - -

Here is the answer I got back from Heartland today: "Not sure I provided you with the Norco slide manual, you may find it useful at some time. The Service Center has advised “Since this is a Norco slide there really is no way to adjust it. If the rollers are flat spotted they would need to be changed.” '

I think I have attached the manual she addressed for those interested. My rollers did not seem to have a flat spot on them when I had the slide elevated so now I am at a loss as to what to do, other than what has been suggested by previous posters. I have asked Heartland if there is a chance the slide bottom could be damaged if the rollers continued to not roll.

 

[JohnD]

I love it when a customer service request tells you it is broken . . .

Duh!

 

[RVFun4Us]

So Heartland customer service indicated that my bedroom slide with the cables is a "Norco" slide. Doesn't make much difference to me but I guess the only thing adjustable on it is the cables. They are going to send me three new sets of rollers. Now when I had the slide jacked up, there was not much room there to remove and replace those rollers. In fact, the screws would be next to impossible to reach without a 90 degree screw driver and that would be pretty slow I would think. Plus I could not even see the back set of screws (inside) on the bracket. So may tackle that when I receive them but looking for any suggestions on a quicker, easier way to replace them. Also, the technician indicated that there should be no damage to the underside of the slide if I just left the non-rolling rollers alone. Don't know how accurate that statement is.

 

[RVFun4Us]

Received the three new white rollers sets two days ago. Compared them to what I have now and found that the spacing between the holes on the brackets are different. So it would not be a simple remove and replace operation. My current brackets have what appears to be a shaft with no screw or bolt head on either end. So not sure there is any way to remove the shaft and just replace the rollers. The new brackets have a bolt and nut on either end. This is getting complicated and I am now leaning towards just leaving as is. The Heartland tech indicated there would be no damage by letting it go. Just the typical rub marks on the underneath of the slide but nothing damaging.

 

[sengli]

Ditto mine is doing the exact same thing. The rollers never move. They just skid across the under surface of the slide floor. The rollers dont seem to be flat though?