Our main awning opened with ease but it was very difficult to get the arms to move up and down the slide bars, tried cleaner on the slide bars, used silicone spray, tried waxing and then noticed that the aluminum was being damaged.
At last I did what I should have done first, called ZipDee and the lady there knew exactly what the problem was; the Teflon tape that adheres to three sides of the slider on the end of the arm was worn out. Three days later by mail at no charge, enough tape to make repairs probably 10 times over arrived (that is real service)
Took twenty minutes to cut six 1" pieces and adhere them inside the sliders after removing what was left of the worn tape, and the awning works like new!
Didn't even realize there IS teflon tape on the inside of the slider. Good thing to know! :thumbsup: Thanx for the tech tip!
Excellent tip. I have the same problem on one of my sliders. I'm calling them Monday. Thanks.
jor
Me too. They're gunna run out of tape. :D
I'm trying to picture the taping procedure and I wonder if we are talking about the same thing. Is this the slider you're referring to. Thanks.
jor
That's it. Think about this for a moment. The product is non-stick teflon tape, that's sticky on one side.
FWIW I used "axle grease" on mine until I can get around to getting some tape. If someone comes over and grabs the bar, that's entertainment.
Somebody told me to vigorously rub the bars upon which the sliders slide with wax paper...which I have done several times. Seems to help...
I thought of that but you need an extreme pressure lubricant to keep the two aluminum surfaces apart. Something the teflon tape does with ease.
I have one that is missing the black tape/thick plastic also. Pull out on the bar and guide the little bracket as you slide it up, still hard to do, but I can use mine.
Yes JOR that is the slider,
the tape is on three sides of the bracket that slides up and down the vertical bar.
You have to remove the awning arm from the slider, then remove one end of the vertical bar and the slide piece comes right off, the old tape comes right out with a flat headed screw driver and you stick in the self adhesive Teflon tape,
Thanks, David. Now I get it.
jor
Been using WD 40 for years and slides fine. Hey,, for the price I will try tape but I figure the free offer won't be long lived. I do know yanking on a awning on a hot day with wife on one end and me on the other and one word from me in the wrong tone can piss off a partner that can last a while. May do tape and 40 until the lady sees fit to put on an electric porch.
Maybe for a beer or five, you can show me how to open our's when you come visit; I've not needed it, because of the small ones, but would like to know! Our Airstream awnings, though Zip Dees, were all different. ^.^d
Use the awning hook to pull down the locks at each end.
Pull down the pull tab in the middle (just like the small awnings).
If someone has added the small circular locks, open them. Your coach did not have these.
If the pull tab is not visible, use a person at each end of the awning to unroll it enough to expose the pull tab. It IS long enough if the awning is properly stowed.
Won't even cost you one beer.
I watched a youtube video from highway rv dealer 2 years ago.very informative ,as i had no zipdee manual. Zipdee website has limited drawings. Highway Rv zipdee video is still up.
Watch it several times, good luck
I know where the lockers are on each side up above, but do I loosen ALL the knurled circular lockers (and remove the velcro keepere, natch) before bringing it down?
We carry two (2) awning pull rods in case this dumbass rolls the large patio awning, or even one of the small ones, up so the pull strap has disappeared. Makes it easier to open the awning until the pull strap appears, without having to use two ladders. Just "hook" the axle on each end & pull down.
Oh, by the way, I also altered a 1 iron. Rumour has it that even God couldn't hit a decent shot with a 1 iron. >:D So I put it to a better use. Works great when wet outside or the hands are cold or arthritic. Nice covered grip for your hands.
All those were added after we had it. But, yes, loosen/open all the circular locks and remove any velcro keepers. None were original equipment.
I'm thinking it was modified so the support arms could be adjusted, not only for height, but a way to avoid 'smackin your noggin' when walking underneath.
I have a question. By "circular lockers" so you mean the knurled knobs that pull out the locking pins? Or has a previous owner done something interesting?
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maximum culpa. I didn't read the instructions, and had extended by awning in caravan position, when it rolled itself back up there went the lanyard.
Yes, there are circular lockers all over, AND, the lanyard getting rolled up into the awning is not much fun! Don't ask me how I know. :facepalm:
That should be a "it happened ONCE". Lesson learned. The tail is plenty long, but you do need to keep some tension on it as you stow it.
As with all the awnings, move the lanyard slightly to the rear as you stow, so you don't end up with a "wad" in the center of the awning and loose ends.
Found zipdee site has many instructional videos.
Awningsbyzipdee.com
They now charge .67 cents per inch for their tape plus tax and shipping....not complaining, it is the "right stuff" for the job after all....
Ralph
96 U270
We just called and ordered tape from ZipDee. They are sending it, no charge.
Guess I got a grumpy person....I called at 9:32 this morning, nothing free about mine. :headwall:
Ralph
96 U270
OK, thanks to David I did this teflon fix and it works great, nice and smooth. ZipDee sent me 3' of their 3/4" teflon tape. Here's the steps for future reference:
1. Open the awning fully and lock;
2. Support the awning. I just used a couple of ladders and some wood;
3. Remove the two 1/4" bolts that attach the awning bar to the slider. The rear bar is sprung so secure it with wire or something so it doesn't want to unwind;
4. Remove the little bracket from the slider bar, clean off the old tape and install new. Just three pieces for each bracket;
5. Reassemble and enjoy that nice smooth slider! On mine the two 1/4" bolts are different lengths. The longer one is just a smidge too long to allow the acorn nut to fully tighten. I just added a little plastic spacer.
jor