AÂ DoItYourselfRV reader recently asked,
Having issues with cable driven slide outs, having a hard time adjusting them. I cannot find any information on how to do it either on video or manual form. Any suggestions?
RV slide outs can be powered in a few different ways. Some slide outs are operated by hydraulics or electric-driven gears, others use a series of cables.
Although these cables can stretch over time – resulting in a misaligned slide out – this doesn’t happen very often. More likely, something is physically stopping the slide out from locking into place or completing its full travel.
Usually the system driving the slide out has a sensor that will cut off power to the drive mechanism if the slide won’t fully extend or retract.
It’s a good idea to inspect the drive path for debris, snags, bent metal, or something out of the ordinary before you start adjusting the cables.
Accu-Slide manufactures a popular cable-driven slide out system. Here’s the manual for it.
Many cable-driven slide outs are manufactured by BAL under the Accu-Slide trademark.
The Accu-Slide service manual has helpful information on caring for and repairing your slide out system like:
- troubleshooting common problems (plus solutions!)
- servicing your slide out system – to include required tools
- adjusting and replacing the cables
In the manual, the cable adjustment section starts on Page 6.
A sticker placed near the slide has information on how to adjust the system. Each cable chain connector is color-coded for easy identification. Be sure to read over the entire section on adjusting cables, as well as the sticker directions, before you start doing anything.
Keep Track of the Changes You Make
Make note of the original position of any nut, and count the number of turns you make.
Use a permanent marker to make a tick next to the nut’s starting position so that you can always go back to the original OEM configuration.
You may not be able to readjust the cables by yourself, and getting them back to their starting position before bringing your rig into the service center can save on labor cost.
The technicians won’t have to guess what you did to the rig before they got a chance to look at it!
Glad you found the info helpful and got the slide adjustment sorted out.
A life saver this manual for the accuslide was the only info I have come across that was simple and concise.
I was having zero luck getting any RV tech that knew how to adjust a cable slide