A&E 8500 Awning

Spring on order. Thanks to all.

I had exactly same problem. There is no parts available-it has to be replaced as an assembly, that is why everybody is talking about winding and unwinding. The 1/8 pin is what is holding the big spring locked when removing from vertical rail. When out of vertical rail, remove tension with large crescent wrench and remove the pin before drilling the rivets out. New assembly will have to be wound-up after riveting into the drum and locked with pin before you can put in into the vertical rail. That is exactly what I did and still have all my fingers.

stubblejumper wrote:

dougrainer wrote:

stubblejumper wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
The original lock cam was a"knurled" round knob. After years of use the ridges would get filed down and then not catch. Starting about 10 years ago, Dometic redesigned the Cam lock system and now use a gear tooth lock system. You just need to get a new RH Torsion assbly. Doug

Doug
can I take the riveted end cap off without locking the torsion spring. If I am not mistaken the new ones have a cotter pin that goes through the holes in the end cap to lock the spring until installed.

There is NO tension on the new Torsion. You have to wind it after install. The OLD torsion, you have to release the tension BEFORE you drill out the rivets. Doug

Doug
Billyboy is referring to a small spring 2" in diam. on the latch, while everyone else is referring to the torsion spring. Is the latch spring -- only-- rerplacable?

It used to be. But, there is NO reason to replace it. The Knurled cam is the problem, NOT the spring. So, you replace with the Tooth/gear RH Torsion.

dougrainer wrote:

stubblejumper wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
The original lock cam was a"knurled" round knob. After years of use the ridges would get filed down and then not catch. Starting about 10 years ago, Dometic redesigned the Cam lock system and now use a gear tooth lock system. You just need to get a new RH Torsion assbly. Doug

Doug
can I take the riveted end cap off without locking the torsion spring. If I am not mistaken the new ones have a cotter pin that goes through the holes in the end cap to lock the spring until installed.

There is NO tension on the new Torsion. You have to wind it after install. The OLD torsion, you have to release the tension BEFORE you drill out the rivets. Doug

Doug
Billyboy is referring to a small spring 2" in diam. on the latch, while everyone else is referring to the torsion spring. Is the latch spring -- only-- rerplacable?

liborko wrote:
Yes. You have to rotate awning drum until you can see thru the hole, about 1/8 of an inch to insert the locking pin(wire, drill bit, cotter pin or such). Then you can drill out the three rivets and remove the spring assembly. After you replace the spring assembly you will have to wind up the spring per instructions that come with new assembly.

IF YOU DO THIS, MAKE SURE YOUR WIFE IS AVAILABLE TO GET YOU TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. ONCE YOU DRILL OUT THE RIVETS AND PULL THE CAP LOOSE, THERE IS NOTHING TO PREVENT THE SPRING FROM UNWINDING WITH TREMENDOUS FORCE. YOUR KNUCKLES AND FINGERS WILL BE SEVERELY HURT. DOUG

Yes. You have to rotate awning drum until you can see thru the hole, about 1/8 of an inch to insert the locking pin(wire, drill bit, cotter pin or such). Then you can drill out the three rivets and remove the spring assembly. After you replace the spring assembly you will have to wind up the spring per instructions that come with new assembly.

Subscribed, I have this same issue, can this be done safely without the dealer?

stubblejumper wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
The original lock cam was a"knurled" round knob. After years of use the ridges would get filed down and then not catch. Starting about 10 years ago, Dometic redesigned the Cam lock system and now use a gear tooth lock system. You just need to get a new RH Torsion assbly. Doug

Doug
can I take the riveted end cap off without locking the torsion spring. If I am not mistaken the new ones have a cotter pin that goes through the holes in the end cap to lock the spring until installed.

There is NO tension on the new Torsion. You have to wind it after install. The OLD torsion, you have to release the tension BEFORE you drill out the rivets. Doug

dougrainer wrote:
The original lock cam was a"knurled" round knob. After years of use the ridges would get filed down and then not catch. Starting about 10 years ago, Dometic redesigned the Cam lock system and now use a gear tooth lock system. You just need to get a new RH Torsion assbly. Doug

Doug
can I take the riveted end cap off without locking the torsion spring. If I am not mistaken the new ones have a cotter pin that goes through the holes in the end cap to lock the spring until installed.

The original lock cam was a"knurled" round knob. After years of use the ridges would get filed down and then not catch. Starting about 10 years ago, Dometic redesigned the Cam lock system and now use a gear tooth lock system. You just need to get a new RH Torsion assbly. Doug