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08-16-2020, 04:33 PM
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#1
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,962
M.O.C. #5651
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Awning chatters when retracting
When my awning is about half way up, it starts to sort of chatter. Seems like something is sticking and then jumping. I have put some silicone spray on all places that have moving parts except the actual awning itself. I am worried it is going bad or will eventually break the awning somehow.
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Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
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08-16-2020, 04:38 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Mine does that when the humidity is high and it's the leather washers in the pistons that make the noise. I've tried a lot of things and usually it will be better for a couple of days and then it's back again. Since we put them out about every day in the summer they've made the noise hundreds of times and are still going strong. When they do it, however, you swear they're coming apart.
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Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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08-16-2020, 05:16 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Lamesa
Posts: 621
M.O.C. #26010
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Sounds like the pistons. The last couple of trailers, including this new one, did/do it. Never thought about the moisture but in retrospect it doesn't happen when we are here in the SW generally. When we go to FL for the winter, or this past May-July where the humidity is very high and it's wet, they start and go at it quite a bit. I've used spray silicone on the shafts and that sometimes helps but not for long. Swelling of the washers makes complete sense.
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Danny and Susan wife of 55 years
2019 Ram Laramie 3500 6.4 4x4 CC 4.10 SRW
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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08-16-2020, 06:00 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,716
M.O.C. #24086
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Dometic recommends silicon lubricant.
It will work fine for a few days, then chatter again.
I'm thinking of trying PTFE (teflon) lubricant.
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Daryl and Marianne,
2019 3130re 20th Anniversary Edition
2016 F350 Lariat
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08-16-2020, 06:04 PM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Boone
Posts: 311
M.O.C. #21011
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Interesting, ours starting making that same noise and thought something was going to break. I thought something was getting too tight. But, that makes sense about the piston.
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2018 Montana HC 362RD
2016 Chevrolet 3500 Duramax HD SRW
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08-16-2020, 06:14 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Lamesa
Posts: 621
M.O.C. #26010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daryles
Dometic recommends silicon lubricant.
It will work fine for a few days, then chatter again.
I'm thinking of trying PTFE (teflon) lubricant.
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I've tried the WD40 Specialist dry lube with PTFE and it does the same thing. You might try it on yours to see if it does any better.
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Danny and Susan wife of 55 years
2019 Ram Laramie 3500 6.4 4x4 CC 4.10 SRW
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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08-16-2020, 07:08 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,962
M.O.C. #5651
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Thanks everyone I'll try silicone on the piston (the one thing I didn't spray).
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Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
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08-17-2020, 06:18 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 2,150
M.O.C. #25165
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I've used both Silicone Spray and PTFE Dry Lube. The dry lube seems to last a bit longer, but the "chatter" inevitably comes back after a few weeks.
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Robert & Diana McNeal
2019 Montana Legacy 3791RD 20th Anniversary Edition
2014 F350 4x4 6.7L SRW
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08-17-2020, 03:39 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,962
M.O.C. #5651
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I gave the piston a shot of silicone yesterday and the chatter went away! Yea!!! Thanks all.
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Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
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08-23-2020, 01:34 PM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: BUZZARDS BAY
Posts: 115
M.O.C. #25753
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Just saw a video about this exact problem! They recommend lubricating but when extending the awning open it approx 10-12 inches and wait about a few minutes. This allows the piston to relax, the highest force is in the first foot or so. Once relaxed open all the way. The tech stated if you open it without the pause it causes that skipping and will eventually do damage.
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2020 Montana 3781RL
2020 GMC 3500 Denali HD Diesel SRW
20k Demco slider hitch
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08-23-2020, 02:43 PM
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#11
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Established Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Palestine
Posts: 38
M.O.C. #25900
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I saw a YouTube video that said you need to take your awning out a little then stop and let your pistons catch up with the pressure and when retracting do the same. Give it time to compress the air in it.
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08-23-2020, 04:29 PM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sun Lakes, AZ 85248
Posts: 179
M.O.C. #9174
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Where exactly is the lube point for the piston?
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Carl & Susan G
2021 Montana 3121RL Legacy
2017 Ford F250 6.7 diesel
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08-23-2020, 05:24 PM
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#13
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: BUZZARDS BAY
Posts: 115
M.O.C. #25753
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Just spray the rod part that extends out, I like CRC, seems to last the longest
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2020 Montana 3781RL
2020 GMC 3500 Denali HD Diesel SRW
20k Demco slider hitch
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08-23-2020, 05:26 PM
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#14
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Established Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Broken Arrow
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #23640
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hmmmmm
Isn't it interesting that the same company that has problems with their awnings is the same one that has problems with their A/C's? Sounds like they need to get some better engineers or get out of the business!
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08-23-2020, 07:45 PM
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#15
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Established Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Halifax
Posts: 45
M.O.C. #26352
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I’ve had this on occasion and it seems to come and go. Now that humidity is mentioned, that makes sense. I’m going to try the lube on the hydraulic arms.
While on the subject... anybody have issues with their awning retracting at a painfully slow speed compared to the normal speed when extending? Is this normal?
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2020 3855BR Legacy w/ Full Body Paint
2019 Ram 3500 Limited Mega Cab DRW
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08-23-2020, 08:05 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Lamesa
Posts: 621
M.O.C. #26010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh_713
I’ve had this on occasion and it seems to come and go. Now that humidity is mentioned, that makes sense. I’m going to try the lube on the hydraulic arms.
While on the subject... anybody have issues with their awning retracting at a painfully slow speed compared to the normal speed when extending? Is this normal?
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Mine is. Compared to my last trailer, seems like you could make breakfast waiting for it to come in. Seems to be no problem, just slower than molasses.
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Danny and Susan wife of 55 years
2019 Ram Laramie 3500 6.4 4x4 CC 4.10 SRW
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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08-24-2020, 08:18 AM
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#17
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Myrtle Beach
Posts: 83
M.O.C. #25701
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twindman
When my awning is about half way up, it starts to sort of chatter. Seems like something is sticking and then jumping. I have put some silicone spray on all places that have moving parts except the actual awning itself. I am worried it is going bad or will eventually break the awning somehow.
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Ours on our 2020 3931FB are doing the same thing. The larger awning however ended up with the motor going bad and we are waiting on CW to come replace it. They should be here today as it was covered under warranty.
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09-01-2020, 05:25 AM
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#18
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Summerville
Posts: 138
M.O.C. #24370
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My awning is doing the same thing with the chattering and slow speed when rolling in the awning
I will try the silicone spray and the delay opening and closing of awning
Anything to help the awning last
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Frank Scott
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09-01-2020, 07:23 AM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 664
M.O.C. #20906
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I wipe the exposed shaft on the pistons with vegetable oil, and it seems to last quit a while. I read that recommendation somewhere, didn't come up with it myself. Mine has done it since day one.
__________________
2019 Montana 3121RL
2017 XLT 350 SCLB DRW 4X4
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09-01-2020, 07:25 AM
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#20
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,716
M.O.C. #24086
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I was using silicon about once a week. I tried PTFE (teflon) just on the strut on 8-17 and have not had a problem since.
__________________
Daryl and Marianne,
2019 3130re 20th Anniversary Edition
2016 F350 Lariat
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