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Topic: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized! (Read 1842 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized!

Reply #25 –
What's the basis for saying the castings are pewter? I think they are cast aluminum. Years and years of working with that stuff tells me that Pewter would not have the strength. We put our awnings out when we stop and they stay out until we leave. Sometimes that's six months. One claw broke in a violent Illinois summer storm and other breakages happened when a semi hit us. Zip Dee get my vote.  ^.^d
Larry
1996 U295 36'
Build # 4805
Actually we sold it but just like to lurk

Re: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized!

Reply #26 –
Larry, the rear rafter arm end on our '89 GV broke after an intense downpour in TX. I took the two pieces to a welding/machine shop in New Waverly TX and the owner told me they couldn't weld the pieces back together due to the fact that they were a pewter casting.
Not knowing better I believed him so I ordered a new part from Zip Dee and was told that, yes, the part is/was pewter.
Maybe later parts are aluminum? Stainless?
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized!

Reply #27 –
 A heat gun run along the arm along with a liberal spray of ATF might get the arm moving. 

Re: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized!

Reply #28 –
Believe I'd get a new welding/machine shop. Pewter has little mechanical strength. The stuff it's made from keeps it from corroding and keeps it cheap and simple to cast but not structurally strong. Zip Dee mentions aluminum castings, aluminum and steel extrusions but no pewter. Your welding person probably used the term "white metal" also. Get a new guy.  ;)
Larry
1996 U295 36'
Build # 4805
Actually we sold it but just like to lurk

Re: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized!

Reply #29 –
If you look at the parts list in reply #10 and go to Universal Awnings 1989 to present, some of the same awning parts were made of aluminum or stainless.  I think our Foretravel has the aluminum.
John M.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized!

Reply #30 –
Hmmm. The PDF part #5A, which is the one I needed, is described as Rafter Link Casting. I just can't seem to find any material listed for it in that description or on that particular line. Maybe the weld/machine shop guy and the Zip Dee phone rep were right?
Honestly never saw an aluminum casting crack apart like ours did and leave a crystalline looking break.
Other parts listed do specifically specify the material, so why not this particular part?
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized!

Reply #31 –
Quote from: John Morales –
If you look at the parts list in reply #10 and go to Universal Awnings 1989 to present, some of the same awning parts were made of aluminum or stainless.  I think our Foretravel has the aluminum.
John M.
That would explain why ours are different. Neither material in magnetic and scratching or scraping the arm to tell the difference isn't for me.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized!

Reply #32 –
5A is a casting and I believe is aluminum.  Order the part, drill out the rivets and replace with new rivets.
John M.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized!

Reply #33 –
I was reading this thread thinking I had to renovate the main awning because it wouldn't roll up on it's own. After doing some research and a couple youtube videos, bought some water resistant lithium spray and shot it behind the locks into the ends. After a few cycles, it rolls up on it's own fine now. No drilling, no replacing rivets, no pulling one end and winding it one more time, just lube.
AKA Chuck
1993 U280 40' WTB, Build 4345, CUM 8.3 "Falcor", 2010 Honda CRV TOAD (Spock), 970W solar on roof
Full-Time traveler between Quartzsite AZ, Longview WA, Ellendale ND, and Lake City SD
The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized!

Reply #34 –
Well, went out to do the deed.  Barb and I both got involved in the task at hand!  She manned the torch, and I took the 3/4" wrench and hammered, and hammered, and hammered some more!  The Hammer was a 2 Pounder and I placed the wrench on the arm near the roller assembly!  I marked starting point, and Millimeter, by Millimeter, they both finally let loose! I hammered the end where the Arm attached to the Roller Tube!  You can see the damage it caused, but a Flat File, will dress it up quickly, I am sure!  Once I had the tube moving a bit, I extended to each notch, and worked a 3M Scotchbrite pad on it, then used a flat file to get as much corrosion removed as I could.  I am using a wet lube product on the front arm, and a dry lube, used on Bike Chains on the rear arm.  I will see which works better?  So far I have about 2 hours into this task, but pleased I finally got 'er done!  Thanks for all the tips, much better ideas than the Factory had (Replacing the Arms!) and they are as good as new now!

*Note*  Been quite a while since I posted up a pic, from a hosting site....learning curve on that one, I see?  Sorry!  I haven't used Photobucket in years!  It says it will cost me over 300 bucks a year to share the pics, now? NO WAY!  And those hideous Pop Up adds, they are like Machinegunned to you on the screen, I get 6 Immediately, and they continue to disturb you!  And try and find where they hide the little X to close them....they are like Micro Ninja's now! LOL  Any suggestions?



<a href="http://s34.photobucket.com/user/RetiredGuns/media/IMG_1329_zpsiegpz5bb.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d105/RetiredGuns/IMG_1329_zpsiegpz5bb.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1329_zpsiegpz5bb.jpg"/></a>
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Tom & Barb Root
'95, 40' U-320C SE, bought from Dave Head, 8/2017  FT Motorcade # 18196 Coach Build# 4663 October '94
2015 VW Golf Sportwagen, 1991 Suzuki Samurai, Off-Road Custom Build-Up, W/Toyota 22re mill, and a 2005 Chevy 2500HD, Duramax/Allison TOADS Will also pull a MacGregor 26X Powersailor 2001 Model, owned since new!

Retired SR Rocket Mechanic, FT Sales Associate @  FT of California, Escondido CA.!  and Retired USMC Gunnery Sergeant (Hence Retired Guns! ) Avionics Tech, on A6E Intruder & OV-10 Bronco Aircraft!  V/N Era Vet, and Desert Storm Participant.  Happily Retired now!

Re: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized!

Reply #35 –
Postimage.org works for me. Photobucket changed their terms of service recently and no longer permits 3rd party photo hosting.
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized!

Reply #36 –
I recall what some folks used to use to free up rusted parts years ago. RUSTED PARTS! Coca Cola!!
Only tried it once on a telescoping TV antenna pole way back in the early sixties. The pole had laid alongside a garage for about three years and the owner decided to put it up. No luck. Rusted solid. We propped one end up on a sawhorse. Plugged the ground end and then proceeded to slowly pour Coke into the sections wherever we could. Repeated the filling every couple weeks (if we remembered) and after about two months the pole slid apart like it was greased. Slimy,  sticky, smelly, but free!!
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized!

Reply #37 –
You might try Aero Kroil before you get too involved.  You can only get it on line, can't buy in stores--- fantastic stuff.  Once I found it I threw away my PB Blaster.  It works very fast.  About 10 minutes should do the job.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280

Re: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized!

Reply #38 –
PB Blaster=ok. A 50/50 mix of acetone & ATF=Best Ever! Here's the cold, hard facts from the April/May 2007 edition of Machinist's Workshop. They did a test of penetrating oils where they measured the force required to loosen rusty test devices. Buy the issue if you want to see how they did the test. The results reported were interesting. The lower the number of pounds the better.

Penetrating oil . Average load .. Price per fluid ounce
None ................. 516 pounds .
WD-40 .............. 238 pounds .. $0.25
PB Blaster ......... 214 pounds .. $0.35
Liquid Wrench ... 127 pounds .. $0.21
Kano Kroil ........ 106 pounds .. $0.75
ATF-Acetone mix.. 53 pounds .. $0.10   
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Zip Dee Manual Extension Arms Seized!

Reply #39 –
Quote from: John Morales –
PB Blaster=ok. A 50/50 mix of acetone & ATF=Best Ever! Here's the cold, hard facts from the April/May 2007 edition of Machinist's Workshop. They did a test of penetrating oils where they measured the force required to loosen rusty test devices. Buy the issue if you want to see how they did the test. The results reported were interesting. The lower the number of pounds the better.

Penetrating oil . Average load .. Price per fluid ounce
None ................. 516 pounds .
WD-40 .............. 238 pounds .. $0.25
PB Blaster ......... 214 pounds .. $0.35
Liquid Wrench ... 127 pounds .. $0.21
Kano Kroil ........ 106 pounds .. $0.75
ATF-Acetone mix.. 53 pounds .. $0.10   


Wow, I hardly Ever touch my WD 40 can anymore, since discovering PB.....I think I need to get a gallon of Acetone ( I have used it for thinning in 'Glass work, etc,) to mix with ATF, that I already have Gads of!  Thanks, I will try it in future difficult bolts!  I bought a 1965 John Deere Loader/Backhoe  (JD 300) for a song, that needs a LOT of work!  The Backhoe is expressly for widening my Driveway, and Prepping land for a New Pole barn for my Queen!  My Foretravel, of course!
Tom & Barb Root
'95, 40' U-320C SE, bought from Dave Head, 8/2017  FT Motorcade # 18196 Coach Build# 4663 October '94
2015 VW Golf Sportwagen, 1991 Suzuki Samurai, Off-Road Custom Build-Up, W/Toyota 22re mill, and a 2005 Chevy 2500HD, Duramax/Allison TOADS Will also pull a MacGregor 26X Powersailor 2001 Model, owned since new!

Retired SR Rocket Mechanic, FT Sales Associate @  FT of California, Escondido CA.!  and Retired USMC Gunnery Sergeant (Hence Retired Guns! ) Avionics Tech, on A6E Intruder & OV-10 Bronco Aircraft!  V/N Era Vet, and Desert Storm Participant.  Happily Retired now!