Help! Awning lever is stuck.

[RWH]

My A & E awning is open and I can't get the Roll-up/Roll-down lever to move. This has happened once or twice in the past and I assumed it was too much tension on the lever. I usually don't open it till the last click to try to keep some tension off. I wanted to close it today before Hannahs east-coast winds kicked up but I couldn't get the lever to budge and it was pouring rain and I didn't want to risk breaking anything. I don't know the inside mechanics of the system. Do you think this is just tension or corriosion. I want to work on this tomorrow when it's dry. The pin the lever is attached to seems pretty small and I'm afraid I might break it off with too much force. Also, I could not find any trouble shooting information for A&E on Google.

[RWH]

My A & E awning is open and I can't get the Roll-up/Roll-down lever to move. This has happened once or twice in the past and I assumed it was too much tension on the lever. I usually don't open it till the last click to try to keep some tension off. I wanted to close it today before Hannahs east-coast winds kicked up but I couldn't get the lever to budge and it was pouring rain and I didn't want to risk breaking anything. I don't know the inside mechanics of the system. Do you think this is just tension or corriosion. I want to work on this tomorrow when it's dry. The pin the lever is attached to seems pretty small and I'm afraid I might break it off with too much force. Also, I could not find any trouble shooting information for A&E on Google.

[Hitchhiker]

Have you tried exerting some downward pressure on the roller tube, as if trying to unroll it farther, while simultaneously working the release tab? I had one that'd stick once in a while and that's what I'd do to get it to release.

Good luck, hope the storm spares you any additional grief.

[TXiceman]

What Richard suggested will usually work. Or get a ladder so that you can get up to the end of the awning. Have someone rock the roller tube back and forth while you try to work the up/down lever.

Oce you get it released, I would poll the torsion spring and check the ratchet and release lever. If you have not worked with torsion spring before, you need to be extremely careful and get some help from someone that has pulled the springs before. If is not hard, but it can be very dangerous if you mess up the slightest.

Ken

[RWH]

I tried to rock it some however in the rain I was afraid I might be forcing the lever too much, tomorrow the weather is supposed to be great so I try to rock it again.

Thanks!

[Ray,IN]

Spray a good penetrant/lubricant into the spring and latch openings (NOT wd40). Try again to unroll the awning tube further by pulling-palm up- with your hand on the tube while wiggling the latch.

[StStg1]

RWH

If you haven't solved the problem, Try having another person pull the awning strap as far as posible to release the tension on the lock tab. then usually you can move the lock to the roll up position. I had trouble with mine at first too. Once in awhile I have to get my wife to help.