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Charley67's avatar
Charley67
Explorer
Jan 08, 2016

Slide awning tension

Is there a way to adjust the tension on these awning springs? When I retract the slide, it rolls about one round, then I have to start it by hand, and when I do, I can feel the tension on it, but then it will hang again. At first I thought the spring might be broken, but now I don't think so. Would appreciate any insight.
  • I had to deal with a similar problem. My slide out topper would hang up when the slide out was extending causing the slide out to tilt in at the top then "pop" free. It turned out that the anti-billow arm was attached with full length self tapping screws that dragged on the internal shaft hub. Due to many miles on the camper, the center hole of the end caps had worn a groove allowing the roller to be pulled too close to the slide out and the screws to jam. The solution was to remove each screw one at a time and grind the tips down to shorten the screw. I also re-drilled the center hole of the end caps and bushed them down to the correct size.
  • If it rolls the first time and you can feel the tension, it sounds like something is hanging up. An extra turn on the spring probably won't solve that.
  • If it rolls the first time and you can feel the tension, it sounds like something is hanging up. An extra turn on the spring probably won't solve that.
  • Take the slide half way out or so, put a nail into the roller stop (usually on right end), remove the tube assy from the brackets, roll up a turn or two, move slide in, then reinstall tube and remove nail. Do again if not enough.

    If a real long tube, suggest 2 people to to the tube rolling!!!

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