Awning Lost Its Tension

[draboo]

Over the summer, our Carefree awning lost its tension. Not just partially, but totally. I m wondering what would cause this. I m thinking of using the following video to restore the tension.



Has anyone else had this issue? Did tension adjustment work?



Thanks for any feedback,eh?


Brad


http://https://www.instructables.com...on-Adjustment/

[scbwr]

I thought I could mine......long story short, I ended up getting a nasty cut on a finger and I'm very lucky that I escaped without any permanent damage. I urge you to leave that repair to someone else. I knew what I was getting into, but it only takes one little slip and it's off to the emergency room. The local repair shop (Moore's RV, North Ridgeville) finished the repair and the gentleman in the service department told me that they have had technicians get injured making awning tension repairs. It's not worth risking a nasty injury with possible permanent damage.

Just my suggestion and 2 cents worth!

[alank]

Sounds like your torsion spring broke. If it broke on the very end, then you can toss the broken piece and re-do the end of the spring, hook back up and you're good. If the spring broke in the middle, you'll need a new spring.

Some of the work is with the spring under tension and the is absolutely no room for error. One slip and you're injured, so know your ability before you start.

[jacwjames]

This summer a gust of wind caught the awning and it ended up breaking the spring. Bought a new one and installed, not a big deal. I did have a tractor with front bucket that made the repair easier.

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi Brad! That sounds like a broken spring. Call Chris at Stone Vos and he can supply a replacement spring.

[THenne1713]

If you lost total tension, most likely broken a spring; Carefree use ONE spring (RH) for 8-ft and shorter and 2-springs for over 8-ft. I just changed mine to manual wind, but found my left spring (11-ft) was not wound (suspect the fault of last roof installers under PO 2-3 yrs ago, as both springs looked like new) My issues had been would only rewind 1/2-way.

[Easyrider]

I don't know what the Carefree is like but we replaced the awning fabric on our A&E electric awning this past summer and it had 1 spring on the left end of the awning tube and an electric motor on the right end of the tube. I bought a "Vise Grip" pipe wrench and used that to wind up the spring (you actually had to wind up the awning tube end bracket) to add the tension on the spring. It wasn't too hard to do and the wrench made it a whole lot easier. I don't think I would have been able to do it without the wrench.

[Ray,IN]

Before spending money or undertaking the task of replacing springs; spray some light oil into the spring area. My carefree of Colorado awnings would not retract, sprayed oil through a hole in the end caps, then retracted/extended the awnings a few time (had to move them by hand at first) until they worked as designed. They need re-lubed again, as they are stalling a bit.
If that doesn't work, then you may begin spending money.

[aden]

I recently had the same problem, if on door or window, mine was a small plastic retainer disc inside the tube . Had to buy replacement spring unit v, easy to install