When we bought our coach, the awning would go out with the push of a button on the remote, but not back in. Luckily we have a handcrank to manually run it back in when needed. On our first outing, while pushing buttons I didn't recognize, the awning started going out in 25mph wind. I freaked, jumped outside and started to grab my hand crank. The awning, sensing my horror, went out about 1/3 of the way, stopped and went back in. While I was happy that it wasn't pretzled on the side of the coach, I figured another option may be in order.
One call to Girard (well, 3 actually...they somehow lost my first order even though I was charged for it, then didn't send a tracking number after the second call, so one more call to verify it shipped) and a shiny new $102 hand crank was delivered.
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fspeedcraving.com%2FForetravel%2FAwning%2FCrankHandle.jpg&hash=2d5259415130e99ab69e8c04bde9207b" rel="cached" data-hash="2d5259415130e99ab69e8c04bde9207b" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://speedcraving.com/Foretravel/Awning/CrankHandle.jpg)
My first thought is lets cut this sumbish up! So...
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fspeedcraving.com%2FForetravel%2FAwning%2FHacksawing.jpg&hash=9a9958e456da6b13daca921a902efd70" rel="cached" data-hash="9a9958e456da6b13daca921a902efd70" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://speedcraving.com/Foretravel/Awning/Hacksawing.jpg)
Now that the pesky bendy part is out of the way, let's think of what else might work out here.
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fspeedcraving.com%2FForetravel%2FAwning%2FHandle-cut.jpg&hash=3280de4b3b44d993fb960adc614bffa6" rel="cached" data-hash="3280de4b3b44d993fb960adc614bffa6" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://speedcraving.com/Foretravel/Awning/Handle-cut.jpg)
I know, let's use a "gentle persuader" and shove a drill chuck down in there, so we can use this thing properly!
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fspeedcraving.com%2FForetravel%2FAwning%2FHammer.jpg&hash=1c7ce2d79fc2a2c4d3d9e529ccc24ad4" rel="cached" data-hash="1c7ce2d79fc2a2c4d3d9e529ccc24ad4" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://speedcraving.com/Foretravel/Awning/Hammer.jpg)
There we go, a nice fit for the 3/8" socket driver.
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fspeedcraving.com%2FForetravel%2FAwning%2FChuckInstalled.jpg&hash=85048890c76b7921cdcbcb9c9dbfea1a" rel="cached" data-hash="85048890c76b7921cdcbcb9c9dbfea1a" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://speedcraving.com/Foretravel/Awning/ChuckInstalled.jpg)
Now this is a handy little piece that will save my arms and shoulders the next time I have to crank the awning in from
Poughkeepsie when the wind comes up, or its time to vamoose!
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fspeedcraving.com%2FForetravel%2FAwning%2FCrank-on-drill.jpg&hash=813479ebd98e47fbd89b7010e22bd580" rel="cached" data-hash="813479ebd98e47fbd89b7010e22bd580" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://speedcraving.com/Foretravel/Awning/Crank-on-drill.jpg)
Hope this helps give an idea to a fellow Foretraveller.
You indicated that you have to crank the awning back in. But in description you stated "The awning, sensing my horror, went out about 1/3 of the way, stopped and went back in." Did this happen on its own, no hand cranking? I would think if it will do auto-retract from wind speed, some electrical is wrong with electric retraction . ??
There is an anemometer on the roof which tells the awning to go in at a certain wind level. 25 mph would definitely do it.
Love the Poughkeepsie reference - I actually knew the area fairly well ;) !
When I first brought the coach home, I ran the awning out all the way, then tried to get it back in. It wouldn't move. I hand cranked it about 1/2 way in, then tried going in...nothing. I tried going back out a foot and then going back in...still nothing, so I cranked it in and haven't used it since. After a short conversation with Girard, it's super outdated (2003) and all the controls need to be replaced. I'll get there at some point, but for now, auto out and manual in has to get the job done. :)
Maybe that thing works, but the remote doesn't, so manual backup I have at the ready. Poughkeepsie was the furthest sounding place I could think of. :)
Check the ground connection to the control box. Going in draws a lot more power than going out.
Ah Poughkeepsie, been there many times working for IBM. Great dinner at the restaurant in The Culinary Institute.