Retensioning a Dometic A & E rollout awning.

Hi.
there are springs either end,but be very careful, as Graham points out ,they can cause major injury if it gets out of control.
If you Google the Dometic A&E web site you can get pretty good instructions, and very good photos.
Be very careful!!!!!
pete

Graham,

Can you tell me if there is a spring in each end of the barrel of the awning.

I seem to have released the tension on the end that doesn't have the lever that you use for roll in/roll out.

I have had a look and there is only one end that has directions for up/down and that is the end that has the lever in it.

At the moment we have the annexe fully setup and in a month when we move I will find out if I have in fact released the tension.

If I have released the tension, I am assuming that I can still roll the awning up.

Cheers,

Cruiser

Yes there is.

You roll both ends towards the van over the top of the roller.

No you wont be able to roll it up if you have released tension At least I couldnt.

I pulled the end off the arm as I broke the cast piece that hold the sliding piece and when I did it unraveled bigtime.

To get it itght i put a small pair of vice grips on the shaft and over the pin through it and wound it 12 times over the top towards the van.

You need someone holding the arm and when you have it tight put the end piece into the arm and put the bolt in

DO NOT LET THE GRIPS GO TILL THIS IS DONE.

I could not find any other way of doing it Tried a screwdiver but then you cant turn the end piece around to fit it in the arm as it will then un ravel again.

Look at the pics on the website as it has the springs and you will get the idea of how they are wound.

You have to tighten them so you wind away from you at the top.

What did you do to make you think it unwound.

I broke both my cast pieces and at $52 each they are not cheap.

The other end is Ok as the lever keeps it tensioned and I took that one off no trouble and it went back Ok.

So I thought the other end would be the same Ha ha it wasnt.

On reading your reply it seems you are misconstruing the up and down bit

It is cast into the end of the arm that comes out from the wall and its a cast

piece that the roller shafts sit in It has a small bolt on the underside which

holds it in.

It has up and down and two arrows on each one.

U put the grips between it and the roller end and make sure they are over the

pin which sticks through the shaft or it will just spin again.

Not much room but i have a small pair the just go in.

Then undo the bolt ,pull the end out while mum holds the rail for you and

wind it up as in my post above. DONT LET GO. It is the equivilent of an

airplane propellor and as deadly.

Neil,

At each end arm there is a bolt that goes through the arm and the end of the barrel.

I was replacing that bolt with an eye bolt and when I took it out I heard a spring unwind, which I assume is the spring that gives that end of the barrel its tension.

This is the end that is at front of the van as opposed to the other end which has the lever for Up/Down.

Cheers,

Cruiser

Graham,

I was replacing the bolt you describe with an eye bolt.

Yes I was unaware that it would release the tension, but from your replies have been helpful and I will have a go at retensioning it during the week.

The local caravan repairer has told me there is a trick to it and if I get stuck they will come out and do it for me.

I guess you live and learn.

Thanks for the help.

Cheers,

Cruiser

If you only removed the bolt that holds the cast piece in the movable arm it shouldnt have released the tension.

It would only do so if you pulled the cast piece out of the arm.

If you pulled the pin through the rod that would release it but it would be really hard to move as its under tension all the time.

Would be interested to know the "trick"the repairer has.

The one I rang didnt have a clue even as to which way to tighten it.