robatthelake wrote:
Every Pull Down Awning that I have seen comes complete with the best locking device ever as standard equipment!
The pull down Rod is in itself the locking device!
The only thing that they forgot to include is a pair of Bungee Cords to keep it from falling off!
Insert the straight L into the accessory hole on the trailing end of the Awning Roller. bungee the Loop end to the Rafter so that it won't drop off and You are good to go!
That sounds good on the surface, but I'm not sure how effective it would be in an actual situation. The typical awning rod "L" section is only about 1" long and quite a bit smaller than the awing rail slot so there will be a lot of slop and play. I sure would want to test it out by installing it and then flipping the unroll lock and give the roller end opposite the supposed locked end some good jerks, giggles, and turns to see if the awning rod stays positioned. Also, what prevents the awning from unfurling is having the rod that is in the awing slot stick out long enough so as it rotates it jams up agains the awing arm and thus prevents the awning from rotating any more. I just don't see how what you are proposing to do is going to be that effective real world.
My awning lock consisting of a 8" 5/16" dia "BOLT" that I attached to one of the large umbrella arms and then inserted that into the tube about 4" with 6" still outside the awing tube and then secured the umbrella rod to the awning arm. Below are the pics of my homemade lock:
Larry
