I bought a kit at Camping World today to restring the shade I had "fixed" last summer. I just shortened the cord to bypass a broken area, but it broke in a different place last trip so I bought the new string and springs etc. I followed the instructions on the internet including a set from Winnebago. But I think I may have gotten something wrong. I never read that the shade required one longer and one shorter string and I can't see why it would. Also when I pull on the string on one side, the other side gets shorter and that shouldn't happen looking at the drawing. At least I don't think so. I used two strings of the same size from the kit, and doubled them to loop through each side of the spring. I restrung as directed with the outer strings crossing over and threading through the inner day shade holes and the inner strings crossing over and threading through the outer holes, and after reassembling the day shade to the night shade and putting the pull bar back on, I tried to even up the cords to tie them. The result is that one string is definitely shorter than the other one by several feet. AND pulling on one side shortens it on the other. Why?I have not rehung the blind yet but I hope the shorter string will be long enough to do the job. I wonder if I got the strings "crossed" somehow inside? Maybe when I was putting on the bottom pull--I had all the strings to one side until I slid it mostly across. Maybe I pulled out the wrong two strings at the bottom. But still can't see why four separate strings should somehow connect at the bottom??? Maybe at the spring, the string is slipping through the loop?Magic.

Tie the strings to the spring. Do not loop them through the spring. You should have 4 separate strings. 2 on each side of the spring. Center the spring in the top "rail" then follow stringing diagram. You could loop them through the spring but tie them so they do not slip. They need to be fixed to the spring.

See if you can find a video on youtube for it like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5v3sejW-4s

I get my kits from the Dirty Blind Man comes with cd video.

There are people who will re-string the shades for you. I was successful on the larger side window shade but it was not easy and was confusing with all the long strings, requires some ingenuity, masking tape, long piece of stiff wire, etc. I laid the shade on the bed while working on it.

Rollnhome wrote:Tie the strings to the spring. Do not loop them through the spring. You should have 4 separate strings. 2 on each side of the spring. Center the spring in the top "rail" then follow stringing diagram. You could loop them through the spring but tie them so they do not slip. They need to be fixed to the spring.So NOT magic. I didn't tie them and don't relish the idea of taking it all apart to "fix" again. Is this what I get for not watching YouTube? I am so old I would rather read--isn't that humbling? Especially since I skipped the knot part? So now my brain doesn't hold the WHOLE ENCHILADA either? I wonder if the strings in the set are not the same length though? And why would only one string slip? If not Magic still a Mystery...at least to me.Thanks...

Re-stringing the day/night shade | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

EMD360
Explorer
Mar 25, 2015
I took off the top rail and checked the spring--it seems that the spring is what is moving back and forth on both the short and long string sides. The loops that are not knotted seem to be holding tight and not slipping. My guess is that the shorter string just started out shorter. I've got the strings coming out at the bottom correctly--so maybe it will work when I hang it.
Getting the tension right is a bear--or at least it was the last time I took it down and rehung it. Basically, I like the shades--think they work very well and I like the two options for privacy. I don't like the metal blinds on the back/kitchen window though I have not taken them off. If I didn't have a $10 off coupon from Camping World, I may have ordered the string by itself from Dirty Blind Man--since that string is stronger. Seems that the plastic was all in OK shape, although I broke one of the ends taking it off. Maybe I'll send for replacements for that.
bamcote
Explorer
Mar 25, 2015
X2 on The Dirty Blind Man.
Monaco_Montclai
Explorer
Mar 24, 2015
Have been round all the shades, two times already, I m finding out , the tension is a key for me. Even too tight they will last a while. Too lose and they will do the banging thing in route.and it takes a lite touch, I fix a lot of stuff, with a good sledge hammer. So now it's all happy-camping
ronfisherman
Moderator
Mar 24, 2015
I gave up on the pleated shades. Purchased night time roll-up shades from Shade-Man.
OFDPOS
Explorer
Mar 24, 2015
I called around to a few places that restring them , $50 for a small one like the one over the cab side window. $100 for the bigger side window by Dinette..

Thought that was little high ??

I might try and tackle the smaller one. I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night and I watched a few youtube video's while there.. :B
I have 3 that needs to be redone , dinette, overcab long front one and another side window.
Somebody mentioned those cordless type ones from Home-Depot, Lowes ??
Has anybody did those ?
tenbear
Explorer
Mar 24, 2015
I have restrung several of my blinds and although mine are strung differently than yours, all strings are the same length. Looking at your diagram, it looks like your strings should all be the same length too.

If yours ended up being different lengths, I think you should recheck your stringing.

BTW, I bought my supplies from Fix My Blinds.
EMD360
Explorer
Mar 24, 2015
Bordercollie wrote:
There are people who will re-string the shades for you. I was successful on the larger side window shade but it was not easy and was confusing with all the long strings, requires some ingenuity, masking tape, long piece of stiff wire, etc. I laid the shade on the bed while working on it.

I had the luxury of a kitchen table in the S & B. But I also used stiff wire which I thought made stringing much easier. No tape though, maybe this time. :) I didn't find it particularly difficult--I'm pretty patient, but did not realize the importance of two little knots! As a DIY I hardly ever "do it once, do it right" but my ego is not deterred.
EMD360
Explorer
Mar 24, 2015
Rollnhome wrote:
Tie the strings to the spring. Do not loop them through the spring. You should have 4 separate strings. 2 on each side of the spring. Center the spring in the top "rail" then follow stringing diagram.

You could loop them through the spring but tie them so they do not slip. They need to be fixed to the spring.

So NOT magic. I didn't tie them and don't relish the idea of taking it all apart to "fix" again.
Is this what I get for not watching YouTube? I am so old I would rather read--isn't that humbling? Especially since I skipped the knot part? So now my brain doesn't hold the WHOLE ENCHILADA either?
I wonder if the strings in the set are not the same length though? And why would only one string slip?
If not Magic still a Mystery...at least to me.

Thanks...
Bordercollie
Explorer
Mar 24, 2015
There are people who will re-string the shades for you. I was successful on the larger side window shade but it was not easy and was confusing with all the long strings, requires some ingenuity, masking tape, long piece of stiff wire, etc. I laid the shade on the bed while working on it.
cmarq
Explorer
Mar 24, 2015
I get my kits from the Dirty Blind Man comes with cd video.