A painfully Sloooooooow windsheild front power curtain

[DeeNoyer]

Hi guys,

Just made it back from 10 days in Yellowstone and surrounding areas and we had a blast.  No major mechanical issues.  We noticed that the front power curtain that covers the windshield is so doggedly slow you have to look twice to see if it's even moving.  It became a bit of a nuisance to open and close twice daily, ha!  Any secrets to souping up the motor or lubing?? I'd love to hear about it.

Dee
1998 Beaver Marquis Tourmaline

[Keith Moffett Co-Admin]

Dee
Seems there are mainly two styles.  Newer ones with a motor on the leading edge and one like our 98 Pat was with the motor being fixed and driven by a plastic chain.  That is if I remember right.
The motor on our 98 was pretty slow as well.  My thought was to eliminate all the drag I could so I unhooked the drive end and the anchor end behind the partition and slid the curtain out of the way so I could clean and lube the track.
From that time on we assisted the curtain motor both directions.
Since we are at BCS I will try to ask the upholstry lady (she does all things Beaver) if she has a source for new motors.  I dont believe they are available but I will ask if I can.
Meanwhile perhaps there is a small motor place near you?  I bet yours would be great with a cleanup and new brushes.
all the best
Keith

[Mike Groves]

Dee,

I have a '99 Tourmaline, so I'd guess the system is the same.  The only way mine goes faster is with more charge in the batteries, and being as dry as possible.  I find that if its humid the heavy fabric absorbs the humidity and its simply heavier.  That being said, though, since you "have to look twice to know if its working" says its probably a more worn out motor than mine.  I haven't yet gotten to the point where I have attempted to remove the motor to see if it can be rebuilt, but it sounds to me that you might be a trail blazer in that regard.

Mike

[Keith Moffett Co-Admin]

Dee
I spoke with Larry in BCS parts today.  He said that the last available motor from that company sold a couple years ago. 
There is no reference to anyone trying to get one rebuilt but the most common problem was a crack in the motor casing rather than a worn out motor.  If that were the case, I suspect you could epoxy the housing and clamp it overnight.

Thats about all the info I could find for you
Keith

[william jefferson]

we were in bend getting services and we finally (upon advice of parts & service people) just had the curtain disconnected from the motor and are operating  the curtain by hand.this was in july of 2013.we also have a 1998 marquis tourmaline.     william jefferson

[Tom and Pam Brown]

My motor casing cracked, I duct taped it back together and made a bracket to hold the motor in place.  If it's square to shaft it will work fine. I did get a used motor and case six months ago and used it bit I still have the one that was cracked for a backup.

[DeeNoyer]

Thanks for the info.  Great ideas to fix it (husband is a do-it-yourselfer!) and now i will put him to task, thank again.  If we have any input or tips on the repair, I'll post again.  Thanks again. 
Dee

[Adam Hicklin]

Dee,

Mine was painfully slow also, but I realized that it was a problem with the plastic chain binding around the curves of the track, and not a week motor.  I could never make it work better.  I finally took the plastic chain out of the track and disengaged the motor, effectively making it a manual curtain (oh, the shame!). It does close as fast as I can move my hand now, but I will admit, I live in constant fear of another Beaver owner seeing my low budget solution.  To make up for feelings of front curtain inadequecies, my wife will sometimes make an electric motor sound while I close and open the curtain.  It's the little things.