Patio awning won't roll back up

[jcgribks]

I've got a 96 Itasca with a Carefree patio awning. When we were packing up to come home from our last trip, our side patio awning would not roll back up on it's own. I unlocked it and had hold of the pulldown strap and nothing happened. I rolled it up by hand about half way and brought it back out to the full extended length and tried again. I unlocked it but nothing. I had to get my ladder out and I rolled it all the way back up and locked it up. It's as if the spring inside broke or something. Is it very hard to replace the spring or springs? It's always worked ok before.

[Martind4]

Most likely you have a broken spring inside the roller tube, they don't last forever. It's not terribly difficult to change, but be aware that you are dealing with some significant spring tension that must be kept under control to avoid injury and it takes two people working from ladders.

[Automobilist]

Yep, broken internal spring. After almost having a finger ripped off working on one a while back, I would just have a shop change it. Not expensive at all, and they've done it many times before.

[GOLDWINGER2]

Not hard to do, but there are specific steps to follow.
J