Extending RV Steps Manually

The motor is not working, the steps are retracted and locked solid, what to do? Aha!! I loosen the gearbox with motor attached on the Kwikee steps and gain access to the release pin.

[@thomasmika1292]

Thank you Steve. I tried for 3+ hours to figure out how to lower my stuck steps. Most videos show how to replace the motor with the steps down. That is easy. What a great feeling after following your instructions to loosen the 4 nuts holding the assembly and seeing the steps starting to lower. I was then able to get to the cotter pin and slide out the linkage pin. From there it was easy. Not even the Kwikee techs knew this solution. You saved me $$$. This was so helpful I had to comment. My first time ever leaving a comment.

[@steveleker8192]

Thomas, Thank you for the kind words! Glad you were able to fix your steps.

[@bradrehnstrom1068]

I THOUGHT this is what I was going to have to do, and you have confirmed it. I have the same situation, steps are stuck up. I had this opposite problem a few years ago, steps stuck down so it was easy to do the dismantle. Turns out, I did just like you, took it all apart, put back together....everything worked perfect, reassembled and it worked until today. I think it just wanted me to go through the motions.Thanks!

[@michaelnerger1866]

Mike c nerger Pensacola

[@johnvincze129]

Absolutely the best advice about stuck Kwikee steps!!! I did exactly as you instructed; loosened the 4 bracket bolts, took out the cotter pin, removed the pin and bingo stairs dropped to easily access the motor, which, not so ironically, behaved the same as your motor. Hot wired it to a battery, sparked once and started to spin. At that point I put it all back together and everything worked perfectly. Sending new motor back to Amazon tomorrow. You are a lifesaver! Not sure what caused the problem in the first place. My RV (2016 Holiday Rambler Augusta) had been sitting for 5 months in FL so maybe the grease dried up and caused it to jam. Just guessing.

[@stevewalcott9546]

I know it’s been 3 years ago since you made this video, but I did the exact same thing that you did and it somehow “unlocked” the motor, and after putting it all back together, it works like a champ again, thank you!

[@allenfogoros1074]

Thanks for the info. Without it I wouldn't have tried to fix it myself. Your solution was "spot on." Steps now working just fine. Saved me a whole bunch of money.

[@steveleker8192]

Allen, Glad all is well!

[@ollieclark4901]

Wow, that’s the same thing that happened to mine took it apart put it back together and it runs beautiful

[@Big88Country]

Got to say dirt or corrosion was the culprit! Thanks!! Got the same job to do this weekend!

[@puffersmith4302]

Thx steve, been trying to figure out how to do this for a few days, just found your video.

[@love4travelTV]

Thanks for the video Steve!! Looks like I'm not getting any voltage to the motor from the gear controller.

[@KirkReid-kg4md]

Went thru the same problem with my step. Steps were in the closed position so I just removed the motor (3 10mm bolts) from the gear box and the steps come down. (had disconnected power to the gear motor) I had put outside battery power to the gear motor when it was installed and got no response. After taking motor off the gear unit I applied power to the motor and got the same result as Steve. Motor began to work and re-installed the motor on gear unit of kwikee step on Rv and steps work again. Point here is I did not have to loosen gear box I just removed the motor and the steps came down. I did not have to touch the cotter pin or the gear box. Easier way to get the steps down if you have access to the 3 bolts of the gear motor.

[@kbrown4ou]

If your steps are stuck make sure your RV is level. Our motor home didn’t look too out of level to me when our steps got stuck closed. My wife insisted we just needed to level the RV as the steps were likely bound up. Once again, she was right.

[@kgoldric]

The same thing happened to me the last time I fixed it. I have no idea why it magically started working but I tested everything and it all seemed to work so I put it back together and it was fine. I was thinking something I the gear box might have got hung and loosening it freed it?

[@drwebmonkey]

Thanks, I had the exact same issue, and resolved it the same way you did, just a 2 step model.

[@fisher9915]

Hey Steve, not sure about your exact step set up. Mine has an Allen head that attaches the steps to a bar that is turned by the motor to make steps extend an retract. If no power you could easily remove the two Allen head bolts and pull the steps out by hand.

[@user-mj9im5lt8z]

Here is an easier solution that will work for some people. Disconnect the two wire connector going to the motor, then supply power and ground to it (reversing power and ground if necessary). If your motor still works this should extend your steps (it did for me). You can take power from the red wire on the four wire plug. If you want to bypass the controller and door switch search for "reverse polarity switch 12v" to get a switch for manually extending and retracting the steps.

[@VideoByPatrick]

Why didn't you drop whole gear/motor assembly down to work on bench ?

[@goldslinger]

When You disconnect and reconnect, it resets the controller and it works again.

[@sugrue8526]

Well done. Same problem here. I’m considering putting a better video out though with use of torches, sledge hammer. Holesaw

[@steveleker8192]

Yeah, I kept saying retract instead of extend. My bad, please forgive me!

[@williamfraser1464]

Steve, your video helped me with the exact same problem. AND like you, I took the motor out and put 12VDC to it both polarities and it worked fine without hesitation. Put the motor back in and it worked again just fine. Yet when I previously disconnected the 4 wire plug AND connected a two wire motor pigtail and applied 12vDC to it in place the step would not work. Since the motor was isolated from the controller at that point it has to be something to do with the motor. Curious if your step has continued to work or whether it quit again.

[@steveleker8192]

William, Glad to hear your steps work! I have not had any problems since that work.

[@TheSnookyputz]

Might be your brushes in the motor. Sometimes tapping the motor will get it to work for awhile. Mine is stuck so I’m taking it off tomorrow to see what’s what. I’ve already checked that I have power, the magnets etc.

[@MyPilot69]

Thanks for posting this. There are so many videos that show how to replace the motor assuming your steps are down but none if they are retracted. And, in my 25+ years experience with cars, boats, and now RVs, my repair is NEVER the simple fix! By the way, I think your motor had a dead spot on the windings so when you reversed the current, it moved the position of the armature over a good spot. Do you happen to know the part number for the motor ideally a cross referenced part at Napa or Autozone so I do not have to pay Kwikee prices?

[@steveleker8192]

Oh man, all of them are extended right? Sorry, I do not have the part number. Thanks for commenting

[@johnvincze129]

Amazon has replacement motors.

[@tylerjohnson6794]

I order all the motor and control box. Wired at up. Replace rage magnet..still nothing...so frustrating. Time to call the mobile Rv. Ugg 👎🙃