I removed the awning from its Carefree roller to have a repair done on it. As I removed the front end cap from the roller so as to be able to slide the awning out of the groove there was a buzz as the spring unwound.
Now I have to reassemble the roller. Does anybody have ideas of how to go about that? Questions:
Do I simply wind on turns onto the front spring?
How many turns?
Or is it better to release the rear spring (the one with the control lever) then wind both front and rear the same number of turns?
Obviously there has to be some spring tension on the roller when it is retracted but how many turns?
Hoping somebody can provide the information.
Regards,
Murray
PS: Let others learn from my experience: if you loosen the end cap from the roller hold onto it to prevent the spring from unwinding. Once the awning is out of the groove slide the cap back onto the roller.
We had to replace the ratchet end on our carefree awning 2 years ago. We unwound the springs on both ends and individually retensioned the springs as we fitted the ends back on the arms. If you get onto carefree's web site there is a page giving the required number of turns for their range of awnings. Ours is 14 Ft and required 5 turns each end. Longer awnings need more turns and shorter less but unsure now of details.
Can you remember how many turns you put on to tension the springs?
Caravans Plus sell the spring assemblies for both ends (in both white and black!) so they are replaceable. While I can put a couple of turns on the front spring my main worries are that firstly I have both ends matched and secondly I have the right tension - too little and the awning will not retract correctly and too much will put excessive strain on everything.
So it looks like I'll have to release the spring on the ratchet end as well. If I'm careful and control the unwinding I should be able to count the turns.
I sent an e-mail to Carefree earlier but haven't had a reply as yet.
If anybody else has had experience with resetting the springs in the roller I would love to hear from you.
Another thought that may help in future. The end caps have a small hole so that a pin can be inserted through the axle shaft to lock the whole assembly together and prevent the springs from unwinding.
Hopefully Carefree will respond to my e-mail soon. Maybe I'll have to ring them.
Otherwise I'll use the Fiesta figures for the 12 to 18 ft awning. Seven turns should hold the roller up against the side of the van firmly when retracted and eight more turns when extended - of course I will have to count the turns as I roll the awning out.
All going well I should be able to put it all together this weekend.
Thanks for the tip about putting a locking pin through a hole in the end cap - wished I had known that before!
