Weatherguard; Seams; Aluminum Guard - Dometic A&E 8500 Series Installation Manual

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE MANUAL
To check fabric for square, measure from the top right
hand corner of the fabric (not the weatherguard) to the
bottom left hand corner at the poly rope. Now measure
from the top left hand corner to the bottom right hand
corner as shown below.
DISTANCE FROM FABRIC TO END CAP (SAME ON EACH END)
In this check, the difference of the two dimensions
should be no more than one inch. If it is more, the
fabric is out of square, and replacement would be
necessary.

2.3 WEATHERGUARD

The weatherguard is the
last 15 inches of the
awning that encloses
the fabric in the rolled
up position. It protects
the striped fabric from
the environment and
elements. The weath-
erguard is a heavy 17
oz. vinyl fabric.
When the vinyl weath-
erguard or fabric has
excessive wrinkles, it will be necessary to stretch the
weatherguard or fabric. Open the awning and allow the
fabric to warm up. Remove one Tek screw, grasp the
weatherguard, stretch it, and resecure the screw. Repeat
this procedure for the other end, making sure to stretch
each side an equal distance, keeping the fabric centered
between the top mounting brackets.
Close and reopen the awning three times. If wrinkles are
still present, repeat the above stretching procedure. This
may have to be done 4 or 5 times before all wrinkles
disappear.

2.4 SEAMS

AWNING
RAIL
WEATHER
GUARD
FABRIC
1ST POLY
ROPE
ROLLER
TUBE
#6 X 1/2" TEK SCREW
2"
AWNING RAIL
TOP
BRACKET
VINYL FABRIC
The seams of the vinyl awning are electronically welded
together with a heat seal. The welded seams are the
strongest part of the fabric. If the fabric has wrinkles or
sags, it may be due to improper seam welding. A close
inspection may reveal the seams to be the source of the
problem. If so, fabric replacement would be needed.
Whenever wrinkles are detected in the fabric, stretching of
the weatherguard should be performed before the fabric is
condemned for bad seams. See 2.3 for stretching
instructions.

2.5 ALUMINUM GUARD

The aluminum guard on the Elite 9000 and 9500 is the
last 15 inches of the awning that encloses it in the rolled
up position, and protects the woven acrylic fiber fabric
from the environment and elements.
On 9000 awnings that have the hinge slat which fits
into the awning rail:
When the awning is fully extended, the aluminum guard
should have an arch of at least 2 inches. The arch helps
water to run off rather than between the sections of the
guard.
NOTE: The aluminum guard is not waterproof.
SECOND SLAT
TOP SLAT/HINGE ASSEMBLY
ELITE 9000 SHIELD ASSEMBLY
To check the aluminum guard for proper arch, open the
awning to full extension, making sure the fabric is taut.
Hold a flat edge to the bottom of the guard and measure
from the flat edge to the inside of the arch at its highest
point. If the measurement is less than 2 inches, the guard
should be replaced.
On both 9000 and 9500 awnings that DO NOT have the
hinge slat:
The arch of the aluminum guard is not important as the
fabric goes under the aluminum guard and attaches the
awning to the awning rail.
2.6 ROLLER TUBE
A&E
Patio Awnings
2" MIN.
BOTTOM SLAT
5