Dometic awning lock lever broken off

[Mosagra]

I believe my Dometic awning is an 8300, or maybe that's the part number of the end cap, not sure. This is on a 1999 Itasca Suncruiser, but this is not the original awning.

What happened is the lock lever is snapped off. I've also seen these called ratchet levers. This is the part you flip down to unroll the awning and flip up to roll it up.

At first I was thinking I could just replace the lock lever, but the more I learn about these it seems I need to replace the entire spring mechanism.

The videos I've seen about replacing the entire mechanism all talk about how important it is to flip down the lever and release the spring tension when youl disassemble the end cap.

Would appreciate any comments or suggestions.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

8300 is the model number for an A&E awning (Dometic bought out A&E).

You can usually still move the lever using vice grips or pliers on the stub.  If it is already retracted (which it should be to remove), much of the torsion is already relieved. Flipping the lever just lets it retract, relieving some spring torsion but nowhere near all of it.  You have to remove the rest of the tension by gripping the shaft and slowly unwinding. See the instructions in attached pdf.

 

[Mosagra]

Thanks for the PDF Gary, that is very helpful. Unfortunately, there is no stub to grab on this latch lever, it broke off flush.
I tried to cut a groove with a diamond tipped Dremel tool, but the piece just slid inside further, slid Down inside the cap assembly. 

So still not sure how I'm going to do it but I will get a new endcap assembly and figure out a way to put it on. Maybe if I push the latch lever stub all the way in the spring will release

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Probably, or maybe it already has. The lever is just a friction pawl (cam) inside.

Is the awning retracted now?

 

[Mosagra]

Yes, it's retracted. The cylinder is locked and won't turn, can't extend at all.

I was hoping to carve a groove in the cast aluminum that I could turn with a screwdriver but that didn't work.

 

[Mosagra]

Reading your post above, I did not realize that when the awning is fully retracted the spring tension is essentially zero.

That's why when I tried to cut this groove in that latch lever, it just slid in, there's no tension on it. So I guess I don't have to worry about The tension.

Will order another end cap assembly and replace it.

 

[NY_Dutch]

Be very careful! When the awning is fully retracted, there is still enough tension on the spring to do significant damage to your hands if it isn't released carefully. If you read through the instructions linked above, you'll find on page 6 that they talk about pre-tensioning the roller with up to 13 turns with it extended just 2 feet from the RV.

 

[Robert K]

I just replaced both springs on my 18 ' awning it is a Carefree of Colorado on a 96 motorhome. My instuctions were to extend the awning put large vice grips on bracket where the arm attaches. Keep a good grip on the vice grips and unload spring,if you cant unlock it the tension willunwind when you pull it out of the awning tube uncontolled . Maybe put another pair of vice grips on spring at other end with a helper to hold one end.
  Other than that they are easy to change at least on my CoC but $170
per spring

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Reading your post above, I did not realize that when the awning is fully retracted the spring tension is essentially zero.

I didn't mean to imply it is zero.  It is "much reduced" but definitely not zero. There is still tension enough to keep the roller tube from unfurling on its own.
If you can't release the torsion, I think it twill spin when you drill out the rivet on the end cap, so watch your fingers and any tools you are using.

If you can't unload the rest of the tension as described in the instructions I provided, you are just going to have to be extra careful.  I had one do an uncontrolled rewind on me when I accidentally knocked loose the pin I had locking the roller tube on an 8900. It was pretty exciting for a couple seconds!

 

[Henry J Fate]

If the awning is retracted, there is about 10 turns on the spring that keeps it tight to the RV. It is best to put a wrench or vise grips on the shaft to hold the tension while attempting to disassemble. It is also possible to deploy the awning just enough to get vise grips around 360 degrees so that the spring can be controlled to the unwound position. Be sure to have a secure ladder and good leverage on the vise grips. The reverse will be necessary to get the spring back online.

Also... If my memory is still good, some of the earlier awnings would not sell just the lever. It was necessary to buy the spring assembly that included the lever.