Roller Blinds

[qayqayt]

You know those roller blinds when Daffy Duck tugs on the bottom and forgets to let go and he gets pulled up and rolled up inside the blind?  FLAP FLAP FLAP.  Always sends the grandkids into fits of laughter.

We have those blinds on our bus and one of them doesn't roll up.  So how do these things work?  Is there a spring inside the roller that I have to re-set somehow or is the thing beyond help?  The blinds are really unique and there are six of them, so I'd like to keep the vinyl.  If it can't be fixed can you just buy the roller somewhere?

Any blind advice?

Bryan
Vancouver BC

[Tom Y]

Yes there is a spring in there. Also a a tab on the end goes in a slot. I think Lowes has them, you may need to cut to length.  Tom Y

[Ace]

Exactly what Tom said! When you wind or re-wind one, an easy way is to use a kitchen table fork. Slide it over the tab on the end and wind away. You lock it in a slot as Tom suggested! Very easy!

[Barn Owl]

There are several way to go about it. How I do it: Remove the blind and simply roll it up. Reinsert the blind and try it. If it works normally but you feel it needs more tension then pull it down and allow it to catch itself in a locked position. Lift it out and roll the vinyl up one or two revolutions, reinsert it again and try it. Use this method of adding a roll or unroll until you get it where you want it. If you don't have any spring tension or you hear the spring unwind itself then your blind is bad. Also the blind has a round pin on one side and a slotted tip on the other. The hanger that the slotted tip slips into keeps the end of the blind from spinning. If it doesn't then you need to repair or replace it.

[gus]

What barn owl said, it is the method I always use - simple and quick.

[qayqayt]

Just to close the loop on this discussion.... thanks everyone for the great suggestions.  It turns out that I damaged the internal spring by accident when I re-stapled the vinyl to the roller last summer.  I couldn't get any results from the suggestions so I took the blind into a shop and they showed me what I had done.  He took a little crank out to re-wind the spring but found it was broken from the staple.  So I have to order a new roller.  Don't have the cost yet but although those blinds are old fashoned, parts are available and new rollers can be made up.

My own quick fix did me in....

Bryan
Vancouver BC