Day/Night Shades - Montana Owners Club

Roberts · 02-11-2007, 07:19 AM

Has anyone had a problem with the day shade cord tearing through the fabric? This is now happening to us for the second time. We have a Montana 2003 5th Wheel. Thanks.

patodonn · 02-11-2007, 07:50 AM

These shades seem to have two general problems, both caused by too much tension on the cords. The "tearing fabric" thing we experienced is caused by the cord breaking past the little plastic grommet at the top of the bottom divider, or the bottom of the top rail. The cord then "eats" its way into the thin sheet metal, becomes mis-aligned and then tears the fabric.

The other problem is frayed cords, which can be replaced. Here, the cords don't eat into the sheet metal, but become frayed and begin to "jam" the extension/retraction.

Only fix I know of for the torn fabric problem is a replacement shade. We had to order one through a dealer, and have it shipped to us at wherever we were. Took about 10 days. We replaced the cords on two other shades. There is an excellent "tutorial" here in the Forum somewhere.

When you reinstall the shade, new or repaired, keep the cord tension down to the minimum needed to keep it in place in the "up" and "intermediate" positions. That should give them a longer life.

SKOOBDO · 02-11-2007, 08:35 AM

Thanks for the tip! I might be the only one that does this, but this winter I left all my night shades down to conserve energy, and in the spring/summer last year I only kept the day shade down on two windows at all times and all the other ones are up as it doesn't get dark until late and its not like I walk around without clothing on. I did the same thing at my stick house. I hate opening and closing blinds so I just leave them up and don't bother with them. One less thing I have to do...I'm in pre-retirement

BillyRay · 02-11-2007, 09:21 AM

not with our montana's, but we did in previous campers.

gkbutler · 02-11-2007, 12:21 PM

We've had problems with our shades since we bought our Monty. We have replaced one shade and need to replace another one. Been thinking about replacing all of them with another type of shade.

vickir · 02-11-2007, 12:47 PM

Roberts ... do you still have the little white caps on the sides of the shades? If not, that could be why the shades are slipping and causing the fabric to tear. On ours, Steve put a a single drop of airplane glue on each ... you have to pull it out a bit then put the glue on. The glue keeps the cap from coming off but is easy to pry off if needed.

Roberts · 02-11-2007, 02:10 PM

Thanks for all your replies. Will try releasing the tension as we have also replaced one shade and have had one restrung already. This was the first time we had written and were impressed at how quickly people responded. Thanks, P. Roberts

EagleRunner · 02-11-2007, 05:40 PM

Ditto to what Vicki said. We found on the several times we had problems with the shades, the end caps had fallen off and we hadn't notice it until we tried raising the shade. Easy fix. There is also a thread, perhaps in archives now, that shows how to restring these shades if you ever need to do so.

sreigle · 02-12-2007, 04:10 AM

I think I have a copy of that restringing diagram on my laptop. If anyone wants it, click the envelope icon above this post and send me your email addresss.

EagleRunner · 02-13-2007, 03:15 PM

Steve,
If you don't, or cannot find it, I do. So Ditto to Steve's post.

Ozzie · 02-13-2007, 03:39 PM

Airplane glue, eh? Great idea...I was wondering what would work good in that spot - I was thinking about putting a screw through it, but I like this idea if it works.

We have a couple good sized windows and those blinds are almost a 2 person job.

OntMont · 02-13-2007, 04:16 PM

I had the instructions and photos for restringing posted on a website of my own. I put that service on hold while we spent the winter away from home, and as a result the URL does not work.

If others can provide the diagram, then it is not too difficult. Hardest part may be finding the correct cord. It needs to be a braided cord, not twisted. I used braided mason's line, but the kind I see in Home Depot etc is twisted, and won't do. When you do it, just make sure that you have the time and space to work through it methodically, take notes and or pictures as you go and you should have no trouble restringing the blinds. (the shades are made by Irvine Shade in Elkhart IN, they may be able to supply you with the required cord).
On edit: Try this URL: http://cocking.anikast.ca/Daynite/

Good luck!

sreigle · 02-14-2007, 03:41 AM

Here's the diagrams:

2-string shades: http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k4...des2string.jpg

4-string shades: http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k4...des4string.jpg

This site purports to have the strings and other accessories: http://www.fixmyblinds.com/

and this file contains some adjustment and repair info copied from a website: http://www.geocities.com/stevereigle/Files/adjust.txt - This file is hard to read online. It might be best to rightclick/save file as or whatever your browser shows.

rldriver · 02-14-2007, 05:51 AM

I drilled a very small hole on the bottom or back (not sure) through the lower frame and the plastic end cap and then put a small sheet metal screw in the hole. Not my invention but it works great.

sreigle · 02-14-2007, 11:17 AM

Dick's method works. I also have pried them out just a hair and put a drop of airplane glue in there, then pushed them back in. It holds and is not difficult to pry the plug out if needed.

happy campers · 02-25-2007, 06:16 AM

I found this thread most informative, but thought it was curious that nobody mentioned the curtains, which we have more trouble with than the shades. We have a small one that just won't stay put; you know, the ones with the velcro to hold them in place? Anybody else having trouble with them?

txkrumm · 02-25-2007, 07:24 AM

Frank,
Absolutely! That's why we took ours down, hardware and all, then filled the holes. Only have the valance across the top. Looks so much better and less dust, less fuss.
I think several here on the MOC have done the same.
t

BigAl52 · 02-28-2007, 02:02 PM

I also put the screws in the plastic end caps and this seemed to work great. I thought about the glue but wondered if taking them apart to do any repair might be difficult. Only other problem that I have had is with the guy who puts the brackets on the walls to hold the bottom of the curtains in place. Why can't we get the screws into something that holds instead of just stripping them out and leaving them to fall off Al

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