Awning Fabric Stuck on Roller Tube

[Rossue]

Am replacing my Carefree Fiesta manual awning fabric. Watching the one video I found out there makes the job look fairly easy & straightforward. I am at the point where the awning is hanging vertical against the trailer with both springs removed.

The roller tube should just slide off the polyrod spline, yet it is stuck. It is also stuck at the top rail. I've used both silicone spray and WD-40. Also tried using a heat gun and have used a piece of wood and rubber mallet, yet it won't budge. Am thinking as I live near the coast that some mineralization has formed a bond. So I guess trying some 30% vinegar may be the next step.

Has anyone encountered this before & have an easier solution?

Carefree was no help & said they've never heard of this.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Rossue

Has anyone encountered this before & have an easier solution?

Carefree was no help & said they've never heard of this.

Dave & Kathie ran into that same problem. They ended up just cutting it off.

[Rossue]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Dave & Kathie ran into that same problem. They ended up just cutting it off.

After cutting it off did the roller tube then slide off the poly rod easily?

[gabeck]

We replaced ours last summer, that description reads a bit confusing ... we did not have any issues doing it ... when the small screws are removed that hold the vinyl cord for the awning in the track ... the old awning slid off fairly easily ... is that what the problem is ? ..... sliding the new awning on required two - because there are the two tracks on the tube.... spraying every thing with silicone made it all easier.

[rubicon327]

Ross: I did this replacement not too long ago. With someone holding the fabric very tightly you should be able to just slide out the roller tube on the other end. It sounds like yours is really tight though. I do remember the top rail being more difficult. I cleaned it out and sprayed some silicone spray before inserting the new one. Sorry I can't be of more help. This is the video I followed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FrH_86YRMs

[Rossue]

Got roller tube out, pics to follow. Was able to pull the poly rod
up and then peeled it all the way out of the slot. Then pulled the fabric up & out too front & back. Them the awning rail on its own poly rod slid and tube was extracted. Not sure why this happened except its over 8 years old. Grooves are clean too.

I did read if another instance like this on Airforums, and took their advice too liberally apply silicone spray.

[Rossue]

Hey Greg- I watched that video at least five times over the last month getting ready to do this- including this morning. Looks so easy!

So picture is 1000 words- this is why it wouldn't release until I pulled out the poly cord.
If you look closely at picture on the left there are three attempts to put a screw into the poly cord to secure it. The leftmost one was broken the next one was attempted and the third- far right was a charm. Whoever broke the screw knew there was no fixing without replacing the whole fabric.

Am going to replace the screws that are corroded. My window screws were corroded when the trailer was new and Reace sent stainless that promptly snapped off as stainless is more brittle, so non-stainless or maybe galvanized is what I'll use.