Broken Awning Eye fitting (the fitting attachedwhich the crank is inserted into) August 11, 2017, 01:12:32 am Has anyone had the eye fitting that accepts the hand crank fitting to dispatch or re-stow the awning. Mine snapped in half on the first crank retrieiving the awning recently .. I was surprised to see that it was made of something that resembled porcelain instead of stainless still or something that would not deteriorate and break as this did. The awning is in like new shape and I have never had a problem deploying or retrieving it before. I hope it is possible to but and replace that specific part.. Searched the archives for any discussion of this specific problem and did not find anything.. I should add that it was a real pain to re-stow the awning .using pliers to turn the mechanism but it did finally bestow and will remain locked until I can get it repaired.. My RV is a 99 26 ft IB... The broken fitting is the one on the awning at the forward end which the crank is inserted into and turned -I can post a picture of the part I am talking about if my description is inadequate ..Thanks.. John Hagan
Re: Broken Awning Eye fitting (the fitting attachedwhich the crank is inserted into) Reply #1 – August 11, 2017, 09:06:07 am We know which part you're referring to; it's plastic, and, like other parts of the Fiamma awning, particularly the end caps, very vulnerable to UV damage. Fiamma's site link is: Fiamma Inc. - Home I don't know what Fiamma's current state of operation is; there is only a fax number listed, no phone, on the contact page. In a recent thread, a poster mentioned that they are taking orders 'over the phone'; maybe that poster will see your post and provide the phone number s/he used to contact them. At the least, one can look up number of the part(s) needed; knowing the awning model is necessary.
Re: Broken Awning Eye fitting (the fitting attachedwhich the crank is inserted into) Reply #2 – August 11, 2017, 09:48:22 am Fiamma's phone number from poster Rick Akin: 407-672-0091
Re: Broken Awning Eye fitting (the fitting attachedwhich the crank is inserted into) Reply #3 – August 11, 2017, 11:31:35 pm Thanks for the feedback and phone number.. doesnt seem promising to get the part from the company quickly.. I haven't looked carefully at how it comes out of the awning retrieval assembly but wondering if some sort of work around could be installed.. or maybe I can find one of those universal sockets that accepts all sizes and shapes of fasteners and crank it out and bak with the broken half.. will look into it as soon as I am off this trip... thanks again.
Re: Broken Awning Eye fitting (the fitting attachedwhich the crank is inserted into) Reply #4 – August 12, 2017, 07:41:15 am If you can wait for the extra shipping there are a couple eBay dealers from the UK. I assume this is the same Fiamma awning?
Re: Broken Awning Eye fitting (the fitting attachedwhich the crank is inserted into) Reply #5 – August 12, 2017, 10:26:46 am And although it won't help the original poster, it seems like those parts could benefit from periodic coating with a UV-protective clearcoat. Just used some on some headlights I buffed out.Chip
Re: Broken Awning Eye fitting (the fitting attachedwhich the crank is inserted into) Reply #6 – August 12, 2017, 10:41:09 am "...it seems like those parts could benefit from periodic coating with a UV-protective clearcoat."----Frequent applications of 303 on the plastic awning parts (and any and all vinyl, rubber, and other plastic surfaces on the rig) can help to retard UV damage.
Re: Broken Awning Eye fitting (the fitting attachedwhich the crank is inserted into) Reply #7 – August 12, 2017, 02:11:27 pm The plastic part in question is secured to the awning's crankshaft by a split pin passing through a hole in the plastic. That creates a weak point, and when the part breaks, it usually splits at that hole.I once repaired one of these with epoxy, reinforced with steel wire wound around the outside of the part and coated with more epoxy. If Fiamma USA is unable to supply the part, you could probably fabricate a replacement from metal tubing, if you could find the right diameter to fit over the crankshaft. But needless to say, the Fiamma part should have been made from metal in the first place.