RV Repair: Awning Repair, vice grips, support arm

Question
Hi Garry,

      I scraped my awning along a telephone pole recently.  When i went to take it down it would not budge.  I noticed that the left end cap had been popped off (a rivet had popped out) so i tapped it back on and the awning came down.  The awning would not go back up so i unbolted the left side from the support arm and all the tension released from the awning.  How do i put the cap back on and restore the tension.  The awning is a sunchaser 8300 model.  

Answer
first,you will need someone to help you.  re-attatch the cap to the tube.  Have someone support the tube and remove the bold that holds the arm to the tube.  clamp tightly a pair of vice grips to the center section of the end that is in the arm.  remove it from the arm and wind it clock wise if you are looking at the end.  be very careful as this is a difficult and dangerous thing.

I, as well as others,  have been injured while winding springs for awnings!

before you start winding, make sure you can re-insert the end section of the spring back into the arm with out removing the vice grips.

after you have re-wound tension, slide the end section back into the arm and install the bolt.  then remove the vice grips.

Garry