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OTD Canopy Identification Needed

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Neal E Weinmann:
Thanks for the ongoing replies.

Found my answer in yet another Carefree publication in the "Discontinued" section titled "Freedom Motor Replacement".

As seen in the attached picture, the end cap that HAS a "front" hole in it is to access a mounting screw that was, if an original cover was still installed, only accessible by drilling a hole in the cover. The lower screw in the picture was discovered deep under and in behind the bottom of the cover, and the upper screw was not apparent, ostensibly because when the original end cap was replaced with the current cap, the top area was slathered with sealant that completely covered that screw.

Armed with this clarifying info, I'm ready to tackle this issue. Will report back in hopes it helps others.

Neal E Weinmann:
The canopy is now out and operational, but of course the path was not linear. After downloading the motor removal guide, I set out to separate the motor and its housing from the awning housing. But first, I squeezed and duct taped the leading edge of the canopy back to the housing so it wouldn't "eject" if I was successful in separating the assembly. Semi-succeeding at the removal of the attachment screws (two came out but the third appeared to be MIA and replaced by a ribbon of silicone between the bus wall and the motor housing. I cut that away). I tried tapping the housing away from the canopy tube using a rubber mallet but was reluctant to hit it harder. As I was working and making noise, my neighbor, a retired electrician, came over and casually mentioned that tapping on a "stuck" DC motor sometimes is enough to jog it into operation.

For the heck of it, I tried the switch, and the motor budged until the tape resisted. I removed the tape, tried the switch again and with a distinct "POP", the canopy extended. I ran it partially back in and back out, and all appeared normal, and a complete mystery as to why it stopped in the first place.  Back up the ladder, I dry-lubed all the articulation joints on both canopy arms. As I got to the last joint, the outer joint of the forward arm, I was surprised to find its pivot pin popped up about 3/4" and pushing hard on the underside of the canopy fabric and totally out of the bottom pivot hole of the arm. It clearly was high enough to contact the housing when trying to extend the canopy. My rationalization was that was enough to inhibit any movement until my taping of the leading edge and hammering gave enough leeway to allow movement. (Grainy picture shows the pin partially pressed back down.  Sorry for the quality - I was working into the sun on a bright day, so the joint was in the shade of the canopy edge and all the bits were covered in grime)

After pressing the pin back down into joint so that the flat head of the pivot pin was nested in the cast relief in the top of the arm end, I noticed that the outer pins on both arms have retainer grooves machined into them and that neither pin had a retainer clip installed! A trip to Ace Hardware and their vast array of actual hardware and I was back installing a 95-cent E-clip into each slot. A few test extensions and retractions, and I called it repaired.

The silicone was replaced, as were the two screws, but not without further "adventures".  I'll leave that story for another time.

Joel Ashley:
Wow, Neal, I'm glad someone is experiencing a sunny day;  though native and used to it, so it's not depressing, the incessant Northwest rain for weeks here does get tiresome.

But you certainly open new possibilities for mine and perhaps others' over-the-door awnings.  A big Thank You for your effort and report here, and also to your neighbor.  Whenever the rain stops (it's so heavy at times that its now appeared inside our coach :( -windshield brow seal or cap clearance lens) I'll have to revisit your commentary here in detail and with our unit in front of me.  Hopefully cylindrical motors respond as well as end mounts.  Perhaps one of my farm size screwdrivers adroitly placed through a carefully pried opening, together with one of my mallets will allow ours to open to where I can check things out more thoroughly, sans removing the unit from the coach.  Who'd have suspected missing clips and pins rubbing enough to freeze movement.  As I remember, I didn't hear my motor even buzz in response to the switch, but it may just need malleted encouragement.

Appreciating the new options,
Joel

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