awning broke

[bborc]

This is an Carefree eclipse electric awning on a 07 Knight. While I was bringing it in almost to the top the awning came flying back out to the full out postion. When I pushed the up botton you could hear the motor turning but nothing happend. Well lucky I was at my inlaws and had a tall ladder. When I took the cover off the motor I could see the gearshaft turning but the black cup on the end of the awning tube was not moving. I pulled the end cup off the awning roll and found that all there is is a flat on the gear shaft that lines up with a flat in the alum. cup id. It is a very bad set up. The cup id will wear larger over time and the flat will not hold. I took the motor and gear case off and drilled out a 5/32 hole for a roll pin. This is not a hard job if you can get up to the awning arm just make sure you have some helping you lower the awning tube when you remove the cup and the drive end of the tube. The other end can just hang there. If you have one of thease awnings you should drill and pin it before the cup strips out and it will, the design is just bad. If you want you could drill the hole without removing anything but the plastic motor cover.

[Drifter]

You can in a pinch, exchange one drive end cup for the other from the side without the motor. I agree that carefree products are just crap.

[bborc]

I thought of just switching the caps but It would just happen again I think. I was just thankfull it didn't let go going down the road.

[JFC]

Poor design and common problem with the Carefree. Mine (2007 Sceptre) came loose on the road. When we got to the CG and called for a service tech, as soon as I said Carefree and it wouldn't retract, they said they knew exactly what the problem was. Their fix was the same, they pinned the end cap to the motor drive. Worked fine for the last two years.

[montiem]

2008 Knight, had the same problem with the carefree, this is one poor design, I tried to get a new cap, they no longer have the parts but there is a guy that writes on these forums that can furnish the parts. If carefree had any responsibility about there company they would do something about these awnings.

[TEDDE]

Thanks bborc for the heads up. I have the same awning on my 05 HR Sceptre. I think I will take your advice and do the change up to a pin. I am not familiar with this job as I just purchased our coach this winter. I don't even know where the motor is, or which side. Can you walk me through this procedure? You can send me a PM if you wish.

Thx
Ted

[kketterling]

bborc: I'd also be interested in a walk through on this procedure as well as any pictures on the repair that you might be able to share.

[bborc]

Sorry no pics, but it is an easy fix as long as you can get up to the awning tube. I had mine rolled out and backed a pickup under the awning and then used a step ladder in the pickup bed. If you look at the front end of the long awninging tube you will see the black cup that is fitted over the tube end. This cup has two screws that hold it on to the outside of the tube. With the awning rolled out you remove the two outside screws on the cup and pull the awning tube out of the cup, the cup will stay attatched to the gear and motor . Just make sure you have someone there to lower the awning tube down easy. The rear end will stay up so don,t worry about the rear of the awning coming down. The black plastic case that surrounds the gear/motor assy. needs to be removed after removing about8 small srews and the one larger philp head screw. The cup is held on to the gear shaft with an E clip. You will have to deside if you want to pin the cup with it still on gear/motor shaft up in the air or remove the gear/motor assy. from the awning. Removing the gear/motor assy. is easy to do, just disconect two wires and one long bolt then you can work on it down on a bench. Hope this helps it really is not that hard to do just be carefull up on the ladder and make sure the wind isn,t blowing.

[TEDDE]

Thanks for the info bborc that really helps me. One question..which side is the motor on? So I take it that you do all this with the awning extended (out), correct??

Thx
Ted

[bborc]

The motor is on the front side. And yes I did it with the awning out.

[kketterling]

Ok I removed my awning motor and I can see how the black cup made of aluminum attaches to the steel shaft. My question is how did you drill the black cup and the steel shaft? The cup makes it difficult to drill straight through the cup housing and the shaft. I've attached a couple of pictures and looking for advice where to drill. Did you drill through the outer lip of the cup to get to the shaft housing?

[bborc]

I drilled through the outer shoulder . I also used some red loctite on the cup and shaft.

[kketterling]

Attached are pictures of were I drilled cup and picture of the shaft now pinned. Drilled holed 5/32 in inserted a roll pin.

Thanks bborc for information.

[bborc]

Looks good.