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Deano56's avatar
Deano56
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013

awning problem

Two days ago at the camping club we are at, I attempted to roll up the awning as a storm was approaching, but could not. I could not retract the arms, neither of them. Once in a while I have had to push or pull a little extra but never like this and not both. Now I can't budge either of them and the pins are retracting out of the help holes when I pull the levers. Are they called up that bad or are they curved too much? Why all of a sudden and both?
  • I'm having a little hard time following your post to determine what is wrong, but did something get bent? Was their quite a bit of wind before you tried to put the awning in and possibly suffered some damage to the mechanism?
  • I meant to say galled up, the phone spelled for me. There was some blowing but don't think enough to cause a problem. By galling I mean where the pieces slide one inside of the other I see and feel some roughness but not terrible. Maybe they bent enough to do this but sure isn't visible. usually the wind gets underneath and pulls up on the awning which shouldn't bend the rails, if it were to push downward I can see the rails bow downwards.
  • Can you (release bracket) remove one of the awning arms at the base from the rig and set it vertical and see if it moves in that position?
  • If I am following what you are saying I think you are having trouble with two aluminium parts galling not unusual spray some lube into the parts some time wd40 will work.
  • Marv Hoag wrote:
    Can you (release bracket) remove one of the awning arms at the base from the rig and set it vertical and see if it moves in that position?

    I'd remove both from the coach and set them on the ground vertically. Apply some lube and then maybe have someone on each end exert some downward force. Might not be a permanent cure, but should tell you something along with a good observance of what might not be so straight and binding as such.
  • You did undo the arm locks on cross-arms (upper arms)....right?

    Then 'unclip' them at the end from main support arms before trying to slide the cross-arms down inside support arms
  • Marv Hoag wrote:
    Can you (release bracket) remove one of the awning arms at the base from the rig and set it vertical and see if it moves in that position?
    i did try that, real tight though
  • Old-Biscuit wrote:
    You did undo the arm locks on cross-arms (upper arms)....right?

    Then 'unclip' them at the end from main support arms before trying to slide the cross-arms down inside support arms
    yes sir I did
  • I will try some lube, maybe silicone spray? I will do some more extensive work on them when we get home this weekend. I was thinking of taking them completely apart and sanding the rough areas with fine sand paper, then lube them up and put back together? I did get the low side up today with the wifes help