Re: zip dee awning arm needed
Reply #5 –
A few years ago I found out that the roller end of the rafter arm is no longer available.
This rafter arm end is a pewter die casting that bolted to the lower arm casting. Ours broke in a Texas downpour.
A rep from Zip Dee found a way to save the day for us. He sent a pewter casting that had a hole cast in the roller end that fitted over the roller shaft. You do have to take the shaft axle out of the lower arm casting in order to slide the rafter arm casting on the roller axle. After this change on the rear end of the awning if I don't tell folks about it they never notice.
Another problem I experienced when opening the patio awning was that the little #10-32 stainless screw(s)--one on each end--that holds the large roller axle in place came loose and decided to leave--in two pieces. Luckily my hand was right under the spot and caught the screw and the awning assembly BEFORE everything fell apart.
I looked things over and decided a #10-32 screw was not a good way of keeping things together and I needed to fix things on the spot. No going to a hardware store while the DW stands there holding everything together. So I improvised by replacing the set screws with spring safety pins that go in nice and hard and have stayed put now for almost nine years. Spring steel is definitely harder than stainless
Topic: zip dee awning arm needed