Has anyone successfully straightened a bent awning roller using Zip Dee's method? How much would I have to pay for a new one-- about 25 feet long?
Thanks,
Greg
I've attempted to straighten at least a dozen roller tubes with little success. I will usually remove the roller from the fabric and arms and place it on saw horses, then use a come-a-long to provide slow, constant downward pressure on the center or the tube. Sometimes yes, mostly no!!
The shape of a tube does not lend itself to being straightened by this method. I would suggest replacement.
Tubes are not that expensive. pricing depends on the length of the roller and freight to get it from the factory to you. PM me if you need more info.
__________________ Lew Farber -Certified Master RV Tech (currently on Forums posting sabbatical, but lurking in the background ) WBCCI #1456 and about to resign!/VAC (assoc) #1456/ AIR # 10325 TAC# OR-1 CHARTER MEMBER: FOUR CORNERS UNIT
Hi Greg,
If there is any kink in the roller tube then straightening is out of the question.
I had a bow in mine and removed 99% of it by using ZipDee's advice.
Then six months later I left it open and guess what? It poured and the tube buckled.
Now I have a totally new awning thanks to insurance.
Al
You might want to check into a local machine shop. My son ran over the end of our awning tube after I had it apart for repair and literally flattened it. My friend took it to his shop with the end cap and got it almost perfect. He also took the bend / bow out if it using his machines. This is a pic of the before... It wasn't too bad but my husband and his buddie couldn't get it any better than what you see using the zip dee method.
__________________ Ann & Eric WBCCI 6274 TAC CT-4 NEU
I've done this to my awning roller three times so far, and I need to do it again. The trick is to get a little skinny dude in the middle, and then do just a little tug and see if it rolls up smoothly. When it does, STOP and don't mess with it anymore.
Lamar
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1975 Argosy 28 "Argosy"
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cost of tube is about the same as freight now days I think 6.00 per ' real cost is labour. straightening is a waste of time if you value yours.wether rain or fatigue is cause will bend again as soon as loaded. 6' step ladder in center of bend,clamp bottom of bend down 2 guys gently bounce ends down untill straight you may need to shift ladder but no need to take anything loose.then install and use center support and roll up if it is going to rain, cloth fabric awns will collect water even with a leg down especially older ones.
I have tried the Zip Dee method with the ends supported by ladders and me hanging in the middle and have gotten nowhere. I also am havinf=g trouble with the awning fabric pulling out of the metal cover where the awning meets the trailer. Got it back in and re-crimped it like Zip dee says, but some came out again as soon as I opened it. Im thinking new boom and new fabric; I understand one can get the fabric already attached to the first strip of the cover.
Greg
I didn't slide the fabric out of that crimped channel....I slid the whole metal cover out of it's channel that is mounted to the top. WD it really good ...let it sit and give it a good go with another person helping you. You might need to use a rubber mallet to get it going but be sure to use a block of wood so you don't hurt the soft aluminum. One more thing....I believe there are about 4 set screws holding the rail in place that need to come out also on the bottom side.
__________________ Ann & Eric WBCCI 6274 TAC CT-4 NEU
Ol' Norby is gonna need to do this too...I'm gonna PM him this thread. Perfect timing!
__________________
Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 11/91
i told norb just to drive to the factory and buy a new one. he can just toss it on the roof rack on the van!
then he can make a nice festivus pole out of the old one!
john
'Nuther good reason to have another rally at Norbs....nothing like some beered up guys trying to replace a zip dee!
__________________
Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 11/91
Has anyone successfully straightened a bent awning roller using Zip Dee's method? How much would I have to pay for a new one-- about 25 feet long?
Thanks,
Greg
I worked on mine the other day after a high wind bend, was bent real bad in the middle, enough to crack the aluminun when I tried to straighten it out! I just cut out two small aluminum plates, curved them out to the same radius of the roller and riveted in place on both sides, works Ok but this is just a temporary fix, I know it won't last for years!
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