We have a 2018 Pleasure-Way Lexor TS. Many of the Pleasure-Way models have a rear sofa that converts to a bed using a power recliner. Today’s project was lubricating the power sofa cables and gears.
Here’s the view of the couch from the back of our 2018 Lexor TS. We began the annual maintenance with the couch in the full, upright position.
The procedure is based on a “Get Your Phil Friday” tip by Pleasure-Way’s legendary Phil Nickel. Members of the Pleasure Way Owners Group on FaceBook can find 40 of his tips at Phil Friday.
Tools needed are spray Silicone lubricant, sewing machine oil*, a 3/4″ wrench, paper towels, and something to protect the carpet. We used plastic to keep the oils and grease from staining the carpet.
*Unable to find the 3M 5-Way Plus lubricant mentioned in Phil’s tip, we used sewing machine oil after asking Phil at one of the Sarasota Rallies what to use as a substitute. A reader noted that the 3M product is now available from some resellers on Amazon.
Disclaimer: I’m not an RV Tech, just sharing how we lubricated our sofa mechanism.
Zooming in on the drive housing, the 3/4″ nut is apparent here.
It takes very little effort to loosen the nut. After half a turn, the wrench can be removed and the nut can be removed by hand.
Once the nut is loosened from the drive housing, the cable can be pulled straight out.
With the cable removed, put a paper towel behind the long screw gear before spraying the gear with silicon.
Next, lubricate the cable by dripping a little sewing machine oil into the end. Hold the cable up higher than the motor, so the oil can flow down the length of the cable.
Spray some silicone into the square hole in the drive housing.
If the end of the braided cable and the square hole in the drive housing don’t align, you can move the gear a tiny bit with a square head Robertson #2 screwdriver. If you do that, move it as little as possible so that the two sides of the couch stay in alignment.
Repeat the process on the driver’s side, where the red circle identifies the nut.
Remove the nut, spray the worm gear with silicon, drip some oil into the cable, spray into the drive housing, and reattach and secure the cable with the 3/4″ nut.
Finally, run the sofa up and down a few times to distribute the silicone lubricant.
Clean-up and the job is complete. Hopefully, when done on an annual basis, this will extend the life of our sofa’s power drive mechanisms.
Bonus: Did you wonder what was behind the passenger side carpeted barrier? It is held on by velcro and can be removed by gentle pulling it towards the rear of the van.
The charger/converter lives back there. You might hear the fan running when plugged into shore power as it charges the batteries.
Now you know it is easy to access if it ever needs to be replaced.
Thanks for reading. Please leave suggestions in the comments if you have found easier ways to lubricate on your power sofa.
13 responses to “Working Under the Couch”
Thank you so much for posting this! I also own a 2018 Lexor TS and the sofa needs lubricating so this information and pictures is fantastic. Thanks again!!
Glad that this was helpful. Please let us know how it goes, so we can improve the post..
Thanks so much for another one of your excellent articles. I also have a 2018 PW Lexor TS and your Exploring by Intuition posts have been amazing – excellent photos and descriptions of how to do things – without which, I would find myself at a loss for doing many of these projects and maintenance issues. I tried to follow Phil's Friday Tips for this power sofa maintenance, but I was always uncertain about a few points – you clarified everything – yet again! Please don't stop making these articles/posts! With much thanks!!
Thank you so much for this excellent description. I have an Ascent, but similar sofa mechanism.
This was extremely helpful since I wasn’t able to visualize all the steps in Phil’s tips. I have a 2006 Lexor. Hoping the cable mechanism is similar
As others have mentioned, this was very helpful to supplement Phil’s tips on how to do this. Great that you provide such well detailed instructions and complementary photos. Greatly appreciated. Cheers
Thank You.
This was so helpful. Thank you
If it passes the "Eyeball" and road test, I will soon own a 2011 Lexor TS PW. It is a 2013 so I have no doubt that it will be in need of this. THANKS,
Benji
Benji – That's exciting! If you do get it, please join one of the Pleasure-Way groups near you. We've learned a lot from other owners.
Great article! I just purchased an 2004 Excel here in Saskatoon where Pleasure-Way is made. I stopped in there on Thursday about wheel alignment specs and Ryan also printed off info about lubricating the sofa. In my search for more info I ran across your article. Now, it seeme to be an easier job with your explanation! Many thanks!!
Dan McAvoy, Saskatoon
Dan – Congratulations on your Excel! We visited Saskatoon and the factory a few years ago and you live in a great area. Gordy Howe campground was a fun place to stay. Hope to see you on the road or at a rally some day.
What a great article. I really appreciate your clear and concise directions and explanations Mark. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Love our 08 Lexor.