Awning Roller Cap Out of Square

[jeepster2]

Should I fix this or leave it alone?

I'm replacing my fabric. When I removed the free end from the roller I found out why the cap was so out of square looking. The tube is cut 5/16" out of square and the cap was forced flush to fit and riveted.

I wonder if I should fix this by squaring the cap to the roller tube and add new holes for pop rivets, leaving a gap on one side as shown in the pic. Or should I put it back out of square and leave it. The cap is a a little warped because of this and the bushing is okay but the outside bushing flange is going to break off from being so out of square.

[jeepster2]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has a badly saw cut tube. Yes, I can't shorten the tube because of the mounting holes. This side didn't roll all the way tight against the trailer but within inches. I didn't know at the time why. I haven't used it enough to know anything. lol.

I temporarily put it together out of square and the shaft is so tight on the bushing I can't rotate it by hand. When I unwound the spring on this side I couldn't feel the last two turns very well. Didn't know at the time but the tight shaft was why.

The good news is if you don't force the cap all the way flush to the end of the out of square tube it doesn't bind the shaft at all and I can rotate the shaft by hand. This puts the end cap only 3/16" out of square and can be riveted with the same holes and all is good. It looks like my end cap can be out of square 3/16" and rotate freely. But not 5/16". There will be a gap between the cap and the tube around one side. I'm moving forward. Thanks.

[ScottG]

Mine was a little off too. I just put it back that way since it always worked fine (and still does).

Scott

[navegator]

Was it working OK or did you have a lot of trouble with it, if you cut it the attachment screws will be in a different place on the side of the RV, since it will be shorter that also goes for the bottom leg, if you use the old place to attach then it will really give you problems, everything will be out of square.

navegator