Solera Lippert Power Awning Adjustment

[Carle3]

I have a power awning in which the bracket and Tube are not in alignment when closed. Every thread I have read on the subject says to adjust the material to move the arm into position. My issue is that both arms (the left and right) are out of alignment in opposite directions. Adjustment to the fabric to get one to line up results in the other being out of alignment. My question ends up being what other avenues of adjustment do I have available? Can I adjust the head at the set screw at the roller axle shaft? Or must I move the mounting bracket to get the other side to line up? My issue with the mounting bracket is the slots are maxed out with how they placed the screws in them requiring me to drill now holes. Not any avenue I would like to go down if I can avoid it. Also is there any tension on the roller in this model or is all the tension applied from the gas struts?

Right Bracket

Left Bracket

Set Screw

 

[daboom11]

You have probably tried this, but have you cycled all the way out and all of the way in five or six times? I think it's easier to adjust when the awning is completely out where it almost winds back in the opposite direction. Just a thought.

 

[Laura&Jerry]

Reach out to Lippert customer service at 432-547-7378. We have also opened our awning all the way, manually slid the awning some or rolled the awning in and out a few times to help it straighten. Check the Lippert website and see if some of the videos they have posted help. We have found great suggestions too on You Tube.

 

[Carle3]

You have probably tried this, but have you cycled all the way out and all of the way in five or six times? I think it's easier to adjust when the awning is completely out where it almost winds back in the opposite direction. Just a thought.

I have tried this and the problem is the span is off. You can line up one side but that just throws the other side off. You can move the fabric around till your blue in the face and not get the arms to both line up.

 

[Carle3]

Reach out to Lippert customer service at 432-547-7378. We have also opened our awning all the way, manually slid the awning some or rolled the awning in and out a few times to help it straighten. Check the Lippert website and see if some of the videos they have posted help. We have found great suggestions too on You Tube.

I think I have watched every awning and motor replacement video out there. I’ve got a call in to the tech’s at RVFix and we will see what approach they may have. I fear I will be moving the attachment point on one or both brackets as it seems the axle shaft at the roller is not an adjustable point.

 

[Abbert55]

If the span is off, which it sounds like that is the problem, perhaps consider adjusting the fabric roller tube length (shortening it) to match the span of the arms. The tube is somewhat longer than the fabric, so there is some to play with. This would be easier than trying to reposition the arms on the unit sidewall, and will give you the needed adjustment.

 

[Mikendebbie]

Just thinking out load (and drawing a sketch)...I am confused over the description of "the span".
My one experience with an awning is now 20 years old and I have no experience with the power awnings we have on our rigs. The sketch below shows what I consider the "span" of the awning tube.

Sketch "A" shows an awning fabric that is misaligned from the body of the RV to the awning tube, and I think weird stuff is going to happen when you try to roll up this awning.

Sketch "B" shows an awning fabric that is aligned and parallel to the awning tube. This awning should roll up properly.

Have you tried taking out the anchor screws and pulling/adjusting the fabric in the tube and at the body gutter? There appears to be room in your tube slots to move the fabric a little bit this way or that way, then reattach the anchor screws. Again, it has been a long time since I attempted this adjustment.

 

[RMcNeal]

If your sketch A is the problem, it should be an easy fix. Mine got misaligned that way and all I had to do was spend a little time pulling it to be aligned. Then I put a small screw in the end to hold the rubber spline from sliding out of place again.

 

[Kfinnert]

I had a similar issue when I replaced the awning on my RV.

To begin, was this a problem previously, or is this something new? If new, what has changed with the awning. Have you changed out fabric?

In consideration that nothing has changed and this is a new problem, then there are a few items you might try.

I suspect the tension spring needs servicing/cleaning and retightened; it is not assisting, in sync with the motor when the awning is retracted. This is very easy to do, but you have to pay attention to the unwinding of the spring, removal, cleaning and then replacing the spring and rewinding it so the spring load winds the correct direction when closing the awning. While you are there, you should inspect the motor and lube as deemed appropriate.

Before I removed the spring for servicing, I would ensure the awning arm is not rubbing against the side bracket where the arms and struts connect to the side bracket - I had this happen once and it kept the awning from closing completely. Identifying the location on the bracket and using a rubber mallet to create a bit more space on the arm fixed that issue and there was no damage or indication of the repair.

Secondly, remove the awning set screw in the roller and extend and retrack the awning. it will adjust itself in the track. Important - be certain the awning can move freely in the roller track and watch it to ensure the awning rolls evenly. This may permit the awning to correct itself since it will want to roll up evenly if the motor and tension screw are doing their jobs appropriately. Replace the set screw if this fixes the issue.

If you suspect the motor and spring are not working together, then service those as suggested at the beginning of this response.

Good luck.

 

[Carle3]

The problem is that the span of the roller tube with the motor attachments is not the same as the span of the brackets mounted on the coach. The factory didn’t get the brackets mounted correctly on the wall leading to a mis-alignment when everything in retracted. Moving the awning does nothing as it all moves as a unit so moving the awning in one direction to correct the mating at the bracket throws the other side off. I did take the set screw off the axle shaft on the roller and found that the shaft has a hole drilled through it that the set screw lines up with so no adjustment is available at the roller tube. The other restriction is the side that has power does not have much play in it because of the hole and power lines for the awning lights and motor run through the bracket. What I am left with is the to adjust the non-power bracket and then re-align the awning. Unfortunately it is off enough that I will probably have to drill new holes into the wall.

 

[Carl n Susan]

You should still be under warranty. I would start with the dealer and ask them to fix an obvious manufacturing problem.

 

[Carle3]

You should still be under warranty. I would start with the dealer and ask them to fix an obvious manufacturing problem.

It is certainly a direction I will explore. If I was a weekender I wouldn’t hesitate but being full time the last thing I want is to give them my home for a month and getting them to spring for a mobile tech is like pulling teeth. I try to see if it’s a simple fix and address it myself if I can before calling and going the warranty route.