Community Forums

Romer1 · 05-15-2022, 01:35 PM

Just recently my A&E awning will not roll up properly so that the arms mesh as they should. Any ideas?

Skip426 · 05-15-2022, 01:53 PM

Happens to me all the time ; my awning is out for 4>5 months at a time and the fabric slides in it's groove on the tube and has to be pulled back to square the arms to the wall .

Put the awning fully out , without raising the arms ( you need the tube at chest height or lower), then roll the tube about a 1/4 turn more to take tension off the fabric , this will allow you to shift the fabric in the groove , by holding the arm (at the tube) against your chest and pulling the fabric towards you .

Trial and error will tell you if you have to be at the back or front end of the awning to square the arms up ; once you have everything square and working you can mark the end of the fabric location in the tube; to take the guess work out for next time .

Romer1 · 05-15-2022, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip426

Happens to me all the time ; my awning is out for 4>5 months at a time and the fabric slides in it's groove on the tube and has to be pulled back to square the arms to the wall .

Put the awning fully out , without raising the arms ( you need the tube at chest height or lower), then roll the tube about a 1/4 turn more to take tension off the fabric , this will allow you to shift the fabric in the groove , by holding the arm (at the tube) against your chest and pulling the fabric towards you .

Trial and error will tell you if you have to be at the back or front end of the awning to square the arms up ; once you have everything square and working you can mark the end of the fabric location in the tube; to take the guess work out for next time .

I'm assuming fabric should be centered. I'll try that next time I go to storage.

Winemaker2 · 05-15-2022, 05:54 PM

There is a round vinyl "cord" in the fold of the awning fabric that slides into the groove. To prevent shifting you can do one of 2 things...
Put a small sheet metal screw into the vinyl in the open part of the groove to expand it and secure it in the groove. One at each end should do the job.
Alternately a RV supply has extra vinyl strip... getva couple short pieces and put one at each end of the awning and put screws into them to act as stops.
The Mfg usually secure the upper edge of the awning this way but jot the lower edge. When replacing the fabric you need to find & remove the screws at top before you can budge the fabric.
If moving fabric in the roller one of those flapper stoppers can make it easier. Just position it near the roller tighten it up on the end youbwant to pull on and let it set for a few days. A little bit of breeze is helpful working the fabric if it is stubborn.

Ray,IN · 05-16-2022, 06:18 PM

When my old Carefree awning does that I simply give the roller tube a push/shove in the direction to get the metal arms to mesh, sometimes it requires another unroll and push/shove. I can't expect much more from a 22 yrs. old awning, the fabric has shrank so much the center width is 4" less than top or bottom.

Romer1 · 05-16-2022, 06:31 PM

We gave up on that method after six tries on Sunday. Got it close enough that we could use the clamps, but still not meshed. Had my wife pushing on arm as it went up, tried using the strap to make it go up at angle, nothing worked.

Old-Biscuit · 05-16-2022, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romer1

We gave up on that method after six tries on Sunday. Got it close enough that we could use the clamps, but still not meshed. Had my wife pushing on arm as it went up, tried using the strap to make it go up at angle, nothing worked.

Fully open your awning then measure distance between edge of awning material and end of roller tube...same place on each side

Both sides should be same

Side that is bigger...hold awning material while pushing on roller until both sides are same distance
Center the awning strap and then retract

Should be 'squared' and close.

Then fully open awning and using a 1/4" self taping short screw...install one in each side of awning roller in the grove at edge of awning material. Screw will stop awning from shifting again

Romer1 · 05-16-2022, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Fully open your awning then measure distance between edge of awning material and end of roller tube...same place on each side

Both sides should be same

Side that is bigger...hold awning material while pushing on roller until both sides are same distance
Center the awning strap and then retract

Should be 'squared' and close.

Then fully open awning and using a 1/4" self taping short screw...install one in each side of awning roller in the grove at edge of awning material. Screw will stop awning from shifting again

Figured that was the problem. Can get 3 fingers between end of fabric on one end and only 2 at other end. Guess I have to relieve some tension on fabric to get it to move. It is awfully tight in the groove. Tried pulling material while leaning against of tube.

Gigattime · 05-16-2022, 07:13 PM

The newer awning material can also get stretched by rain, etc. which will cause mis-alignment as well.

Romer1 · 05-16-2022, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigattime

The newer awning material can also get stretched by rain, etc. which will cause mis-alignment as well.

This is 22 years old, doubt it, Thanks.

azpete · 05-20-2022, 09:34 AM

make sure the top of the awning fabric is centered in the awning rail when it is centered. secure it in position with a small screw thru the rail.
then it should roll up ok.

Alpine36 · 05-20-2022, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

When my old Carefree awning does that I simply give the roller tube a push/shove in the direction to get the metal arms to mesh, sometimes it requires another unroll and push/shove. I can't expect much more from a 22 yrs. old awning, the fabric has shrank so much the center width is 4" less than top or bottom.

Ok, it's not just me that does this.
I spent quite a bit of time centering everything and it still requires an occasional bit of "persuasion" getting both arms to mesh. I suspect the 15yo sunbrella material has shrunk as well, but it still looks and functions like new. It's just one of those things I can live with, I guess.

jim58 · 05-21-2022, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpine36

Ok, it's not just me that does this.
I spent quite a bit of time centering everything and it still requires an occasional bit of "persuasion" getting both arms to mesh. I suspect the 15yo sunbrella material has shrunk as well, but it still looks and functions like new. It's just one of those things I can live with, I guess.

Centering is good in a perfect world. Mine is 13 years old and has stretched. Eyeball the top first. If it looks acceptable just leave it alone. Then spray the open end (roller tube) with silicone spray along where the cord slides through. If it has a valance spray both with silicone. Wait 10 minutes for it to soak in. You should be able to get it to slide whichever way is needed to get the arms to fold correctly. Probably won't need to slide it more than an inch or so. If you pulled too much go to the other end and give a tug.

Is this an A&E with the weatherpro cover? If so, go on top and spray both the cords with silicone spray. Wait 10 minutes. Use a piece of wood on the metal shield and tap it over to the side that needs adjustment. No screws to mess with. The metal shield WILL walk to one side or the other without the top sliding. Mine did.

If it's already stretched from age, using screws or rivets on the awning tube does nothing. It will keep stretching/shrinking and rip. Don't do that.

If installing new material, then yes, be more precise on centering. If it's an old beat up awning just get it to slide on the roller tube and adjust as needed.

I did my A&E weatherpro last week. Helped 2 others adjust theirs afterwards. The top 2 screws hold the cord and usually doesn't shift. The metal Weatherpro shield can move side to side. Mine moved enough to scratch the arm on the right side, but the top never shifted in the rail. 99% of time the roller tube side is what needs a tug left or right to get it rolling straight. You might have 3 inches on one side and two inches on the other. If it's old and shrunk/stretched don't worry about it looking centered. Don't focus so much on centering. Reason being....the arms follow how the material is rolling on the tube.

It's easy to fix....no need to deal with it not rolling straight.

Jim58

jim58 · 05-21-2022, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigattime

The newer awning material can also get stretched by rain, etc. which will cause mis-alignment as well.

All of a sudden the wind picks up. One tries to roll up the awning in the wind. This scenario will also cause the material to shift on the roller tube. But yes, once it stretches or shrinks it will need to be adjusted eventually.

Jim58