Lazy Daze Owners' Group

Problems with awning winch slot

March 30, 2014, 01:43:00 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 145523

---

I have a 2001 MD and I broke the winch slot, the plastic piece that the hook and crank handle fit into to open and close the awning. After some research and a call to LD I found out the the awning is made by Fiamma and is model F45 Plus 4.0. I went into the Fiamma site and found the schematic for it and order Part number 98655-134. It arrived and after I took out the pin to remove the old winch slot I found out that the slot in the new part was too short and the pin hole through the shaft does not line up with the new winch slot. It is about 1/8" to 1/4" out. I have sent 3 emails (over the last 6 weeks) to Fiamma with all the awning information including date of manufacture, model and serial numbers but no response. So with no help from them my potential solutions are: 1) drill a new hole in the shaft, 2) take the shaft mechanism down and cut it to make the pin holes in the shaft and the winch slot line up, or 3) glue the winch slot onto the shaft and hope that it stays. It is only used to wind and unwind the awning so no upward or downward pressure on it. Has anyone run into the same situation and if so, how did you resolve it? Thanks

Kevin Hannah 2001 Mid-Bath Poulsbo, WA

Re: Problems with awning winch slot

Reply #2 – March 30, 2014, 03:27:42 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 145526

---

Ken
 Just gluing the shaft to the new handle will not work. It will twist loose.
Modify the new handle, you can always get another if you screw it up. Cutting the shaft is a more difficult repair and  expensive replacement, if the job goes wrong, assuming that Fiamma can even supply the correct part.
 Is there enough metal in the handle to drill a new hole, lining up with the hole in the existing shaft, for a new roll pin? The handle could also be drilled and threaded for two or three small allen-head set screws, used to lock the handle on the shaft.  You could use the two existing roll pin holes.
Small indentations in the shaft can be drilled to mate with the tips of the set screws, providing a depression for the set screws to lock into, greatly increasing the set screw's holding power.

Larry

Re: Problems with awning winch slot

Reply #4 – March 30, 2014, 10:06:56 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 145531

---

Hi Larry,

Thanks for you insight and solutions. I will buy the Allen head set screws tomorrow and work on it. The next couple of days are predicted to be dry. It has been the rainiest March ever with over 8" todate in the Seattle area. Thanks again for your help.

Kevin