How To Repair Kwikee Steps

Topic: Kwikee Step Repair

Posted By: Jagtech on 07/28/09 06:21pm My Kwikee electric step of a sudden quit working today, had been sitting unused for several weeks, then wouldn't retract. I did all the usual electrical checks, and institute the motor was bad. I removed the motor assembly, and took the motor apart (comes apart with four screws). Information technology was full of water! The water had dissolved the glue that holds the permanent magnets in place, and they jammed the armature. I dried it out, cleaned it up, and epoxyed the magnets back into identify. And then cleaned the brushes, checked the gearbox and added lithium grease to the worm gear. Put it all together and it works perfectly!
I can't effigy out how the water got in in that location, but I sealed around the motor embrace with silicone just to be rubber.
It would appear that a lot of failures with these steps can really be repaired without much difficulty, instead of replacing the whole thing!

1998 Triple E F53
1995 Jeep Wrangler toad

Posted Past: Hurricaner on 07/28/09 06:30pm What twelvemonth is the MH?

Sam

Sam & Kari
Hurricane, Utah

2022 Winnebago Sightseer 33C

Posted Past: Jagtech on 07/28/09 07:17pm Sorry... 1997 Triple E Class A, about 39,600 miles. Kwikee step #874.

Posted By: othertonka on 07/28/09 08:28pm Good job and cheers for the post. Skillful sometime expoxy. You wonder how water tin can become in, Recollect I will double bank check my motor to see if it is sealed.

Othertonka
2004 Southwind 32VS 8.1 Workhorse chassis
2002 CRV Toad
U. S. Gear Unified restriction system
Retired Fire Captain, SFD

Posted By: pkunk on 07/28/09 08:49pm I sometimes have to whack my step motor with a wrench to get it to work. Practice yous recollect this is a like situation?

1999 Coachman Mirada 34 ft.V10-F53 chassis
12ft.LR slide-2 gp31 AGM 12V @220AH

Posted By: Jagtech on 07/28/09 09:14pm I've read almost several people who talk almost whacking the motor to get information technology going. This could signal worn brushes, not making good contact with the armature. Information technology might too be that one of the magnets has go detached, and is hanging up the armature.
I didn't need to replace the brushes in mine, but replacements might be available through a small appliance or small motor repair store. They are the pigtail blazon, soldered in. The brushes are a little tricky to get back into the holders, yous need tiny fingers and lots of patience!
A discussion of alarm, whacking the motor might cause the magnets to break loose, equally they are just glued in place. If your motor is the type with iv screws holding the embrace on, its certainly easy to bank check it out.

Posted By: nbounder on 07/28/09 09:39pm Back in my mechanic days, almost 'zactly the same matter would occur with Corvette ability window motors. In that case, the shaft grease would escape into the brush expanse, and dirty brushes don't make contact. My beginning reaction - ask the customer to concord the switch on and drive a bouncy road. The bouncing would assist in re-making contact wiwth the brushes, and prolong the time before catastrophic failure. Sounds like something very similar is happening here.

Nbounder
KG7DKF

Posted Past: ScottnSherrie on 07/29/09 03:56pm Thanks for sharing. That is good to know. I'm impressed with your troubleshooting skills. Many otherwise smart people don't have a clue when it comes to electrical systems. I have WFCO steps which announced to be a clone of the Kwikee, so I will try and remember this.

As for the water, I would judge it had to practise with the bending of the steps and the way water wicks (sp?). I can imagine water running down the side of the RV, getting onto the steps and running to the back of the step, running off and onto wires that just happen to be int he right spot to allow the water to run downwardly the wires and into the motor. I would meet almost putting a drip loop in the wite before information technology gets to the motor and then whatsoever water that does run downward the wire volition baste to the ground instead of run into the motor.

88 Gulf Stream 34' Sun Vista, Ford 460, Edelbrock Perfomer carb, Thorley headers
Ford F-250 crew cab 4X4, 6.0 turbo diesel
consummate roof rebuild
daughter 19, son sixteen
U.s.a. Army Desert Storm vets (both of u.s.)
left: The Ol' Gal right: DW with White Lightnin'

Posted Past: nbounder on 07/29/09 09:02pm That drip loop sounds like a proficient idea. Maybe you lot could take a garden hose, rinse off the door area, and lookout where the water goes. Might surprise you!