Electric Awning Problem - Suggestions??

[bigdomino]

Hi All!

Drove to Maine today from Vermont and got to the camp and set up. Looked up onto the side of the motorhome and noticed that the awning was not fully wound tight. This awning winds up into a metal cover and then stops.

Wound the awning out a little and it was fine. Wound it back up and when it got to the point to wind it under the metal cover the motor on the awning just kept running. It did not wind it all the way tight.

Any idea what is going on? What is broken in the awning? Can I drove with it like this?

Thanks for your help.

Steve__

[Gary RVRoamer]

Brand & model of awning? Several different ones are available and the problems can be different.

[bigdomino]

The awning is a Carefree Eclipse. I extended the awning out a foot or so and then wound it back up. Seems to come back and starts to wind the cover over it and reaches a point where it can't close it anymore. Motor will continue to run when it no longer can close. Sounds like a gear issue?

I am afraid to extended too far in fear of not getting it to wind up under a load.

Steve__

[Gary RVRoamer]

My Carefree stalls easily - the motor just doesn't have much torque for that big awning. I'd guess that something is binding a bit when it reaches the metal cover part. Can you give the arms a bit of a shove while somebody else holds the switch down?

[observer]

As other posters have said the end cap on the awning has probably been rounded out by the motor shaft. This would account for a partial wind but not enough to close the awning. If your awning is still under warranty, Carefree has a new square shaft motor assembly which should last longer than the present one. If the end cap is rounded out and you have a ladder to access the awning, the end cap at the non motor end is the same as the motor driven end. The caps can be swapped and it will get you home. I would not drive the motor home unless you change the cap or secure the awning to the motor home.