Forum Discussion

kjm7545's avatar
kjm7545
Explorer
Jan 23, 2017

Awning problem

Hello everybody. I just joined this site as myself, wife and son will be starting our second year of permanent camping this season. Last year was a learning experience for sure. I am, for the most part, pretty handy so when I went to replace the awning on the front of my TT last year, I though I could do so pretty uneventful. All went in well, but when I rolled it up at the end of the season, I noticed that I put the spring in backwards, and as I rolled it up, the tension was increasing.

Now that I am starting to plan for the upcoming camping season, I am wondering how in the world I can release the awning (that already has tension built up) and somehow secure it to open up easily. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I am looking for an aerator for my kitchen sink. Water pours out erratically and splashes over the counter.

Thank you!
  • kjm7545's avatar
    kjm7545
    Explorer
    Feb 03, 2017
    aguablanco wrote:
    kjm7545 wrote:
    aguablanco wrote:
    Having owned a garage door business for over 25 years I can tell you that the springs are most likely damaged beyond any help. You will, most likely, have to replace the springs. Once torsion springs are wound backwards they will "kink" and lose a great deal of their strength.You will still have to remove the tube and install correctly so the lock arm works properly and is on the proper end of the awning.
    RichH


    Thank you. I am worried about the tension when releasing. I understand your point and wouldn't mind if the spring was damaged as long as I am able to handle the tension. I put it out at the beginning of the camping season and put it in at the end, so it's only an issue twice a year.


    These springs are not near as strong as garage door springs and can be held back , unwound and rewound with vise grips. Please remember to use two hands when doing this. You should also move the roller bar to the correct orientation at the same time. Feel free to PM me if you need some advice. Since the springs are wound backwards, and have been for some time, I would suggest that you replace them both with new ones.
    RichH


    Thank you very much for your help!
  • aguablanco's avatar
    aguablanco
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2017
    kjm7545 wrote:
    aguablanco wrote:
    Having owned a garage door business for over 25 years I can tell you that the springs are most likely damaged beyond any help. You will, most likely, have to replace the springs. Once torsion springs are wound backwards they will "kink" and lose a great deal of their strength.You will still have to remove the tube and install correctly so the lock arm works properly and is on the proper end of the awning.
    RichH


    Thank you. I am worried about the tension when releasing. I understand your point and wouldn't mind if the spring was damaged as long as I am able to handle the tension. I put it out at the beginning of the camping season and put it in at the end, so it's only an issue twice a year.


    These springs are not near as strong as garage door springs and can be held back , unwound and rewound with vise grips. Please remember to use two hands when doing this. You should also move the roller bar to the correct orientation at the same time. Feel free to PM me if you need some advice. Since the springs are wound backwards, and have been for some time, I would suggest that you replace them both with new ones.
    RichH
  • kjm7545's avatar
    kjm7545
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2017
    aguablanco wrote:
    Having owned a garage door business for over 25 years I can tell you that the springs are most likely damaged beyond any help. You will, most likely, have to replace the springs. Once torsion springs are wound backwards they will "kink" and lose a great deal of their strength.You will still have to remove the tube and install correctly so the lock arm works properly and is on the proper end of the awning.
    RichH


    Thank you. I am worried about the tension when releasing. I understand your point and wouldn't mind if the spring was damaged as long as I am able to handle the tension. I put it out at the beginning of the camping season and put it in at the end, so it's only an issue twice a year.
  • aguablanco's avatar
    aguablanco
    Explorer
    Jan 26, 2017
    Having owned a garage door business for over 25 years I can tell you that the springs are most likely damaged beyond any help. You will, most likely, have to replace the springs. Once torsion springs are wound backwards they will "kink" and lose a great deal of their strength.You will still have to remove the tube and install correctly so the lock arm works properly and is on the proper end of the awning.
    RichH
  • GrandpaKip's avatar
    GrandpaKip
    Explorer II
    Jan 26, 2017
    2 people with large vice grips on either end. One holds the rod while the other releases. You will get a 1/2 rotation each time.
    Someone might come up with a better idea.
    Good luck.
  • kjm7545's avatar
    kjm7545
    Explorer
    Jan 26, 2017
    hohenwald48 wrote:
    GrandpaKip wrote:
    How in the world did you roll it up if the tension was increasing?


    If I read the OP right I think he might of replaced the roller tube in addition to the fabric. Not sure. However, if so and he got the ends of the tube flipped (front end of tube toward rear of trailer) that would make the spring be backwards. That's the only way I can think of to get the symptoms he describes.

    While working on awnings, especially over the window awnings with short support arms, be very careful as their are tremendous spring tensions involved. I know a guy who lost an eye when he unbolted a window awning arm from the side of the trailer and the arm spun around and got him right in the eye.


    Yes, this is exactly what I did. When I replaced the fabric, I put the spring in backwards. I'm thinking that if I am able to secure the awning tube somehow to slowly let the tension off, it will be okay. This year, I plan on pulling the spring out and reversing it again, but I need some ideas on how to hold the tube to slowly let it out. Thanks for all the input so far.
  • hohenwald48's avatar
    hohenwald48
    Explorer
    Jan 25, 2017
    GrandpaKip wrote:
    How in the world did you roll it up if the tension was increasing?


    If I read the OP right I think he might of replaced the roller tube in addition to the fabric. Not sure. However, if so and he got the ends of the tube flipped (front end of tube toward rear of trailer) that would make the spring be backwards. That's the only way I can think of to get the symptoms he describes.

    While working on awnings, especially over the window awnings with short support arms, be very careful as their are tremendous spring tensions involved. I know a guy who lost an eye when he unbolted a window awning arm from the side of the trailer and the arm spun around and got him right in the eye.
  • kjm7545's avatar
    kjm7545
    Explorer
    Jan 25, 2017
    It was not easy. The further I rolled it in the harder it was to roll.

    I wasn't sure if a household aerator would work or not. I didn't know if it would be the same thread or diameter.

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