auto steps

[ahling]

I recently purchased a 2006 Coachmen diesel pusher. Today the automatic steps make a chattering noise when they retract in. Any help would be appreciated.

[wa8yxm]

It may need a slight adjustment of the controller.. But frankly. It retracts so "Often" (not) that I'd not worry till you next scheduled dealer visit less it is a warranty issue.

[ahling]

The gearbox was an easy find on Amazon. I wound up buying it from camping world for a few bucks more since I was there for something else. Thanks for all the input.

[D_E_Bishop]

It would be nice to know if that gear is available on a retail basis and if it is, where did you get it from. I don't think Kwikee sold parts and Lippert is even stingier with information and parts than most.

A temporary fix some have suggested is to relocate the gear as only a small portion of the gear is actually used. Emphasis on "temporary"!!!

By the way does anyone remember when Kwikee sold to Lippert?

[Groover]

Effy wrote:
Try cleaning and lubing them to see if it helps.

I had some issues with my steps. I did not use the coach for several months and when I did the steps failed to retract and I hit them on something and had to replace them. The replacement steps had a sticker on them to lubricate them once a month. I did not realize that they needed that much lubrication. That may be excessive but all the same you gears will probably last longer if you keep the steps moving freely. I need to go lubricate mine again now.

[ahling]

Well, I pulled it all apart and the large gear in the gearbox is stripped. Off to the parts store.

[hohenwald48]

ahling wrote:
There is a magnetic limit switch on the steps at full retract and I wonder if that is the problem.

What brand of steps are they?

I've never seen steps with a magnetic limit switch. Most have current sensing circuitry on the control board that cuts power to the motor when the steps reach full in or out causing the motor to go into locked rotor mode significantly increasing the current draw.

Aren't most DP steps air powered? Or is that just the step well cover?

[ahling]

Thanks for the suggestions. Looks like my chore list just got bigger.

[Effy]

Try cleaning and lubing them to see if it helps.

[MrWizard]

what brand step
When our kwikee step did that a gear in the gear box had broken several teeth
I bought a new gear box online from an Amazon seller

[bthomforde]

If its a Lippert step check the center should bolt on the gear, ours broke 2 times. Lippert has a bracket that's supposed to fix it but ours broke after the "fix" was installed.

[ahling]

The step works like it should except when it retracts. After it is all the way up it makes a ratcheting noise for a couple of seconds. The batteries are full and it does it even with the generator running. There is a magnetic limit switch on the steps at full retract and I wonder if that is the problem.

[nbking]

I had the same thing a few days ago.

After getting under the motor home and checking everything, then cleaning and greasing all the moving parts without improvement, I thought that there maybe was not enough power to operate the stairs.

Checked the battery and it was dead so it was replaced. Steps work well now.

[midnightsadie]

low volts will cause that.