Need help Old Awning Spring Removal

[Ripley345]

I bought a new Zip Dee awning spring from Zip Dee. I have drilled 4 rivets, but I cant get the old spring out? I have been banging and pulling for 2 hours without any progress. There is one rivet for the fabric but it looks to be inboard of the end of the spring assembly. Any suggestion about how to remove old spring assembly?

Ren

[Al and Missy]

Do you have this?

http://nebula.wsimg.com/3dfb3c7d27ea...&alloworigin=1

Edit: I guess you either have the instructions or just knew what to do. If you can't get the end casting out of the tube, squirt some penetrating oil - I like PB Blaster - around the casting edge and into the rivet holes and let it sit for a while. If that doesn't work, use a heat gun to heat the end of the tube, without heating the casting as best you can. Maybe put some ice on the casting.

Al

[Ripley345]

Thank you for the instructions. I had them and it actually came with a set. I did get the rivets out. I was thinking about trying your suggestion, but was kind of hoping there was going to be one of those "did remove the xyzzy, thing-a-ma-bob" responses. You are right though, that lip seems pretty corroded. I assume PB Blaster is not "Peanut Butter" because I am not familiar with it. I don't actually have any penetrating oil, just some lithium spray... but that only works if the parts are already accessible. I am going to get some penetrating oil (PB Blaster if I can find it) and give it a try.

Thanks and I will keep you informed.

Ren

[CRH]

I would go to the hardware store and get a foot or two of cable and a cable clamp. I would put the cable in the pin hole and fasten the ends with the clamp. I would use the hook end of a crow bar or the claws of a heavy hammer to yank back on the cable like a slide hammer. A few yanks would probably solve your problem.

[JLAbne]

When I replaced the awning spring in my 1987, I found the spring was binding internally away from the end of the tube, after I removed the rivets. I used lots of penetrating oil but the spring exhausted my strength.
So I rigged up a cable puller hooked on a 2x4 and the end of the spring, then pulled it in stages. I had to insert metal strips and finally a 1x4 into the spring to hold it out as I worked on it. Eventually I pulled it free.

I have uploaded pictures but not sure they are visible.
Jack

[Ripley345]

Well thank you guys. First of all my spring broke so it had to come out. Could not get the Cast End Cap off. It had corroded to the tube. So I drilled... yes drill baby drill until there was only shavings left then cut out a 5th of what was left and the rest of the bushing came out. What an F'n bear of a project.

Now I have new spring in but cant figure the turns on the spring. Is it 7 plus 1 turn per Length of awning or width (out from RV).

Thanks guys

You are awesome!!!

Ren

Hey check me out on IMDB... Ren Wilson... that's my other job when not wrestling with Ripley.

[CRH]

The length of the awning plus 7 more turns sounds like the formula I used. It worked, but was a little too strong, IMO. I ended up backing off 3 turns.