Push rivets for awning? & Replacing fabric?

I found another post on here with a link that might help.
link

On my current awning, which think is 19' long, I had to replace the front spring/mechanism. The catch had gone bad, It was the new and improved catch that some one dreamed up in the late 90's? I unwound the spring 6 turns to replace the assembly. The directions for installing the new spring had recommend more turns, which I foolishly followed, but it was way to tight, so I had to back it off and that was hard to do.

This was all done while awning was in place.

Well on the spring it has un-wound it self already by accident so I don't know how many revs it had on it. I did find a great U tube video on what to do and how so I'm going to follow it and see how goes.

This should help. They are just "Pop Rivets". Very easy to work with, just need access to a pop rivet installer.

I recently gave these directions to someone else on the RV Net, and he wrote me back and thanked me, as he said he was done in an hour. This is how I helped my neighbor replace two awnings. You will need two helpers. Flip "open catch" and pull awning about about 2 or 3 inches. Unhook bottom end of legs and drop leg to ground using extension legs to take weight of awning. Unbolt top bolts to trailer and take out screw that keeps awning in place from sliding back and forth. Get one person on each end of awning and slide it out of track. Lay awning on ground and place a block of wood or a pail under each end near tube. DO NOT TRY TO TAKE AWNING ARMS OFF ENDS OF SHAFT.KEEPING IT ATTCHED KEEPS SPRINGS FROM UNWINDING. Unwrap fabric from tube. Drill out pop rivets at rear,non-catch end of tube. Slide end cap off tube 2 or 3 inches to allow clearance to slide fabric off.(DO NOT PULL ALL THE WAY OUT AS SPRING WILL UNWIND. SPRING IS ABOUT 18 INCHES LONG.) Slide new fabric on, and re wrap fabric. Slide end cap in place and pop rivet. Get one person at each end of awning support, and have third on ladder to guide awning into rail. Once awning is in place, bolt to trailer, center fabric between supports and install screw. Lift legs in to lower catches. Flip ratchet lock and awning will close. This way you do not have to deal with springs.

I take it the slot in end cap doesn't line up with the slot in roller.

First....you will need to determine which direction will give you the easiest access to reinstall new material........going out/in the front or rear.
That will be the end cap to remove.

SECOND.....you will have to take the tension off the spring on that end of roller.
Vice gripes on end shaft/remove bolt on arm and then unwind spring slowly under control. (Count the number of turns and the direction to unwind!!)
Drill out rivets to remove them

Rivet and rivet tool available at any hardware store........just get the right diameter and length.

Two people........couple hours.........relax and slip a cold one under new awning.