Hi,
Looks like I'm a bit late to this, but if you want to consider this option, I'd recommend it.
When my awning spring was acting up (maybe 8 years ago), I replaced the mechanism with one of these manual crank mechanisms:
Carefree Manual Crank UpgradeIt was a recommended option by some folks on these forums. I LOVE it! Haven't had a problem since. It always winds up and down, directly under my control. I would never go back to the spring mechanism, and I don't really care for the electric ones, either, for that matter.
If this doesn't help you, perhaps it might help someone else.
Good Luck,
~Rick'