How to access slide mechanism for 2001 Diplomat 40

[Carolina Drifters]

I have a 2001 Diplomat 40 and would like to lubricate the bedroom slide moving mechanism but don't know how to access it.  Can't find any info in the manual, can't see the mechanism from underneath and am loathe to disassemble the bed if not needed.

Ideas?

[jacwjames]

My bedroom slide mechanism can be accessed by lifting the bed platform.  Then I remove a ~1' wide piece on the box that encloses the slide mechanism.  The bed has to be all the way out to have access to the motor and slide mechanism.  I would use a silicone type spray.  

Below is a picture of mine when I remove the fabric covered piece, the screw are sometimes hard to find. 

While your in there I'd take pictures and see if you can find any labels that identifies the make/mode.  Take a good look at the track and gears to see if there is any problems. 

[Carolina Drifters]

Thank you for the kind and prompt reply.  I will follow up and reply (with pics).  Although there are no issues with operation, I am completely restoring our RV and have had problems with slideouts on other coaches.

[jacwjames]

I thought I was starting to have problems with my slide mechanism.  I actually pulled the motor and gear reducer, tore them down, inspected and could not find anything wrong.  It is a Dewald system.   I did contact Lippert who bought Dewald and they informed all the parts are obsolete. 

I then checked how the bed box is mounted to the slideout.  Along either side the screws that held the box to the slide had loosened which allowed the slide to tilt a little, replace the screws with larger and added a couple more, this helped.

Then in 2021 I decided to replace all the flooring in the coach, had to repair a soft spot in floor behind passenger seat, and decided to do the whole coach.  This included putting the LVP flooring on the slides.  So I removed the box that the bed sits on.  When I lifted it I found that the rollers that were digging into the bottom of the platform of the box.  To fix I added metal plates where the rollers run.  That pretty much fixed the problem as to how easy the bed rolls in and out. 

[Carolina Drifters]

Very, very helpful, thank you for taking the time!!  I would never have thought about looking for damage from the rollers.  If I'm going far enough to inspect/maintain the slide mechanism, it will be well worth my time and energy to disassemble and inspect the entire assembly.  I am retired, have the time, and still have the energy to address these things.  Presently the heat (dog days) is a big hindrance but will likely pass by mid Sept.

I have gone to great lengths to insure this coach is as reliable as one can make a 20+ year old RV.  Our overall plan is to leave NC and tour our national treasures (whilst bypassing the tourist traps).  

I will keep you apprised of progress.  Again, thank you for your insights,

Dave

[diplomat don]

Dave, on my 2001 Diplomat 38 the bed slide was nothing like what Jim's is. Lift the bed and it is easily accessible if like mine was. It was more like a worm drive cylinder and not really anything to lube as was a sealed unit. That is if any 2 were the same. Good luck. 

[Rikadoo]

So im currently working with a different type of lubricant, im using it on slides, and steps, as well as anything that is around dirt or crud. This works really good on rollor bearings and gears. It is not a substitute for everthing, however like myself others are using it in several applications, it wont wash off when dry, a little spendy. It covers bare metal well an just suggesting it as a alternative to “some” of the other types 

[Bill R]

2 hours ago, Rikadoo said:

So im currently working with a different type of lubricant,

Rik - Have you also tried out WD-40 Specialist Silicone Quick Drying.  Just curious how it might compare to the Wurth?

https://www.lowes.com/pd/WD-40-Specialist-Specialist-oz-Water-Resistant-Silicone-Lubricant/3503050

[Rikadoo]

Well bill it seems there is a appication for almost every type of lube. If i had to guess every person has there favorite… being in the service industry im finding not one lube does it all. Today i used the graphite spray on a jack screw for a generator slide, i find i really dont want any dirt sticking to it due to the length of time before its opened however i want it to have protection during the year it probably doesnt get reopened, which is something i dont believe a silicon spray could offer. I mearly offered this as yet another tool in our arsenal of tricks to survive the riggors of time😎

[timaz996]

When a broke a shear pin in my bedroom slide mechanism two years ago I took these pictures. So another snow flake setup.