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ZipDee Awning Repair (Flex Key Replacement)

September 28, 2016, 09:05:11 pm

The manual ZipDee awnings on my coach have a flexible fabric  (the "Flex Key") connector between the coach and the aluminum slats covering the awning. (see Awning Parts picture below).
This fabric was coming apart (Condition1, Condition2) and I began to fear the awning would come off.  A little Gorilla Tape was the temporary fix.

ZipDee sold me 10' (actually shipped 11') of the Wide Flex Tape as well as a pair of jigs to hold the awning on the roller while replacing the tape and a good , clear set of instructions. (Replacement Parts)  Note the screws at the ends of the aluminum slats.

It took a little soap solution and rotating the cover to the correct position but the old Flex Tape and Slat slid out easily. The instructions said to put one of the jigs in the left end and wait until you had the slat out before inserting the other jig from the right end but I liked starting both and sliding the right end one along as I pulled the slat out. As usual, Mary's help was invaluable (not to mention necessary).

Once the Key and Slat were out it was workbench time. The Flex Key was crimped at a few places to the Slat but the aluminum was easy to work with.

The only tricky part of reassembly was feeding the flex cloth edge into the slot on the roof  but a center punch to widen the entry slot and a little more soap solution got it going.

I had asked a local ZipDee certified shop how long and they had said about 2 hours.
They were probably correct but the job looked too simple to pay them to do it.

I may get to some of the others but they don't look needy enough yet.

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Re: ZipDee Awning Repair (Flex Key Replacement)

Reply #1 – September 28, 2016, 09:50:35 pm

Thanks for the write-up and pictures. Looks like a very doable task for most of us RV'ers.

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Re: ZipDee Awning Repair (Flex Key Replacement)

Reply #2 – September 29, 2016, 04:16:17 am

Thanks for the info.  I need to do mine, especially the main awning and did not fully understand how their jig worked.  When I did the slideout after replacing the awning fabric, I did not have/use the jig.  For that awning, I just replaced the fabric key strip by unwinding the awning spring, putting the awning on top of the slideout and then removing the old and inserting the new key strip. Unfortunately that won't work without the slideout to support the awning roll.

Rich

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Re: ZipDee Awning Repair (Flex Key Replacement)

Reply #3 – September 29, 2016, 07:33:01 am

Excellent information! Thanks!

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Re: ZipDee Awning Repair (Flex Key Replacement)

Reply #4 – September 29, 2016, 09:35:25 am

Perfect timing, something else I need to do! Thanks !

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Re: ZipDee Awning Repair (Flex Key Replacement)

Reply #5 – September 29, 2016, 11:31:04 am

Thanks - Didn't know that the "jigs" existed. 

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Re: ZipDee Awning Repair (Flex Key Replacement)

Reply #6 – October 01, 2016, 03:19:13 am

I replaced the Flex Key on my big awning and found it to be much easier than I expected it to be. Jimmie at ZipDee was soooooooo helpful to me.  I recommend buying their modified vice grips - $10.00. Makes the job a snap.

Ken

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Re: ZipDee Awning Repair (Flex Key Replacement)

Reply #7 – October 01, 2016, 10:53:22 am

"Modified" Vice Grips....love modifications, any pictures ?

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Re: ZipDee Awning Repair (Flex Key Replacement)

Reply #8 – October 01, 2016, 11:38:29 pm

Zip Dee just grinds out one side of the vice grip jaw to allow for the curve to crimp the fabric.

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