Thank you for this video, have been searching for a solution for a year. Finally can stop running out to roll my awning in the last two feet when a big storm is coming!!
Thank you as well. My neighbor had the same issue, awning motor wouldn't wind, but it would unwind. Like you said, nothing on the internet for this older model without the remote. Current user manual only deals with the remote to set the limits. Found your video and had the exact same setup. I pushed the limit switches in and out a few times and boom, it's working now! Saved the owner hundreds of dollars! Thank you!
Cheers mate. Sorted me out. My motor drives a garage door, and was wedged between two walls, so would have been tricky to have removed the cover. A squirt of WD-40 and a good blast of compressed air and we were golden!
Thanks Christopher, I have an old awning and good info isn’t available. Your video helped me understand the yellow and white buttons so I could reset my limits. So, yes, your video helped someone out here in the RU-vid universe. Thanks again.
Dear Chris, thank you SO MUCH for your posting!! I'm embarrassed to say how much time I have spent in the last few days trying to set the stops on my outside shade (after taking it down to allow me to re-caulk the windows). We prob. purchased the motorized shade around 1995, so its the older ones that have the yellow and white switches, and do not respond like the newer versions do on RU-vid.....wouldn't do the "double shutter" to prepare it for a factory reset. I just saw your video this morning, and have already set my upper and lower stops!! I didn't even have to unbolt the unit from the bracket, as there is a yellow access cover that I pulled off (can be either on top or on the bottom of the motor, depending on which side of the window it's on), I moved the shade to the bottom with my crank, then pushed and released the white (outer) button. Then I cranked the shade up to where I wanted it to stop, and pressed the yellow button and released it. Don't press too far, or else the motor will start.....not good, as the shade can over-retract! Thanks again, you saved me from an unnecessary motor replacement!!!! Brad
Awesome! I'm very happy that my video helped you. I didn't think anyone would need to know about it, but I made a quick decision to try to record what I found and I'm glad I did.
Thank you VERY much for your update. Mine would only extend, not retract, spent 2 years troubleshooting. Found this video, was loathing removing bolts, found your comment - access panel removed, limits set, works!
I’ve found this very helpful. My awning goes out find, but the retract is going all the way until one bar hits the long cross bar. I’m thinking the retraction stop needs to be reset, after watching your video. I’m going to take off the endcap like you did and take a look. I’m sure it’s filled with crap. 😅 Thanks for posting! Hopefully I’ll be able to fix!
I hope that fixes it! I thought this would be an unusual problem with an obsolete motor nobody else has, but it turns out there were a few others with the same issue.
Hi Christopher, Thank you so much for sharing this video. We replaced our fabric in 93 degree heat and worked hard doing it (our first time). After opening it it seemed they gave us the wrong dimensions we ordered (too much slack) when fully opened. Now we had to figure out where the problem was. So after we figured out how to take up some slack it still wasn't taut enough, then we remembered about limit switches. So this is to thank you for posting your video you were our savior yesterday we can't thank you enough. Everything works fine and we could do this job blindfolded now. We will be sure to share our find with other friends in need.
You should be paid for this knowledge, they tried to sell me a new motor 1600$$ I found this video and all I’m out is a can of lithium grease and about an hour of time thank you
Thank you thank you thank you thank you. I had the Exact same problem and your solution worked like a charm. Sunsetter was very willing to sell me a new $450 motor. Again, thank you
I'm so happy that worked for you! When I found I just had to clean it,I didn't think it would help anyone else, but I guess dirt gets into those switches over the years.
Thank you VERY much for your video. Mine would only extend, not retract, spent 2 years troubleshooting. Found this video, pushed the buttons, good to go! I was able to just remove a yellow access panel as did another commenter so no bolts to remove, whole fix was 5 minutes.
Welcome to the fixed-my-own awning club! That thing is still going 8 years after we bought the house, and who knows how long before. Apart from getting clogged with dirt, it seems to be built to last.
Yeay. I have been looking for ANY mention of that yellow cover. I watched Chris’s video and even got directions from Sunsetter but no one has mentioned that yellow thing and that was covering the buttons, it says I should just see them by looking up. It isn’t coming off easily and I didn’t want to possibly break it if it was for something else. (Mine is going out but not coming in) Thanks to both of you.
I wish I saw this yesterday when the installer spent hours trying to figure out how to set limits and reverse the motor. I ended up fixing it all myself. The Telis 1 Pure remote has terrible instructions on programming too
I just replaced my Sunsetter awning fabric and need to adjust the open and close positions for the first time. My motor is on the right side as I face the awning. I cannot adjust the settings because I believe the cover and switches are at the top and they are covered by the gutter! I see yours are at the side. Might mine be on the side as well? I see you removed the white bracket to get to it?
All I know is what's in the video, unfortunately. If you have the same exact model as me (which may not be the case), then I think you need to get inside that cover. The motor is probably designed so it can be mounted on either side.
Hmm 🤔 I recently went to a service call and the customer had a sunsetter retractable the would no longer open up. But if you opened manually you could retract close from the switch. It was wired to a double throw decora switch. Wonder if the open limit was jammed up in there.?
That's a definite yes sir because I didn't realize that and had it retracted when I took my two bolts off and the whole thing's spraying out and knocked us over and it was completely fubar.
Say Chris, do you have any idea of where the receiver is for the sunsetter? I have a remote controlled one and it only works sometimes. Seems like taking it apart and cleaning it might work.
My knowledge of this device starts and ends with what’s in this video, unfortunately. Stating the obvious, but I assume you’ve tried fresh batteries in the remote? It’s probably not a cleaning issue.. if there’s a problem with the receiver, it may be harder to fix.
I'm wondering if perhaps a stuck switch could be my problem. Please let me know your thoughts. The remote will not open the awning, but there is a slight click sound. If I manually open the awning I can then use the remote to auto-close the awning with no problem. So, motor only closes the awning and doesn't open it.
Have you tried to re-set the open limit? I wish I knew more about them, but my knowledge is limited to my specific experience. I took the thing apart, found some dirt in it, cleaned it out, and I was able to unstick the obviously stuck switch. If you’re comfortable doing so, you could try opening yours to see if there’s anything obviously wrong.
@@ChrisMasto HAHA. Ok thanks bud. I tried to look at limiter settings but mine is set up so you need special tools to remove a cover in order to get to it. Anyway … video was still helpful. Thanks!
I’m not sure what buttons you’re referring to. The limit switch I fixed is on the motor, which is on the left side on mine, though it seems like it could be installed either way.
This was a long time ago so I'm afraid I don't remember any more details than I have in the video. I think you just unscrew some bolts. It's heavy, so you're really supposed to have someone helping.
Hi Christopher, i have the exact motor and currently having the same issue. What is the procedure of setting the limit now? The buttons are not stuck or anything but I cannot seem to find a way to set the limits. Thanks in advance
I wish I could help you, but everything I know is in the video. If yours doesn't work the same way as mine, or it's not the same failure mode, I wouldn't know what to do.
Hi Christopher, thanks for posting this video. Would you mind sharing how you balanced the awning and secured it without having a helper assist you while you disconnected the left side? I couldn't tell from your video. I am having issues with my circa 2005 Sunsetter and my motor is on the right hand side, and I may need to replace the motor as well, and it will be over $450 to do so. Mine seems to work some days and not on others, but mostly in the cold it fails to operate. Thanks
That's an astute question. You should absolutely have a helper assist you to avoid dropping or damaging it, or hurting yourself. I can't advise you to do the stupid thing I did, which was to gently set it on top of the bracket and try not to breathe too hard for fear of knocking it over.
Thanks for the reply sir. I received a reply recently from Sunsetter after I asked them why they recommended that the awning be fully open when replacing the motor instead of closed with the lateral arms strapped tightly closed and they said this: Two problems exist with replacing a motor on a closed awning, which is why we instruct the procedure be performed with the awning fully opened. First, the arms are fully spring loaded when closed, so when the awning is opened all the way, the arms are not going to spring open on you which can severely damage the awning and potentially injure people. Second is the weight of the fabric on the roller bar. The roller bar is much easier to lift from between the brackets, facilitating easier removal and replacement of the tubular motor, which also acts as a brake for the roller bar. Risk of injury is always a primary concern. When programming the motor, the arms need to be open, so when the fabric is completely unrolled, the arms are not spring loaded, trying to pop open. Beginning the process with the awning open makes the steps much easier and safer. Makes sense I guess.
I have the same problem where the awning works better when it's warm worse when it's cold. I ended up buying a new motor but haven't installed it yet. I'm wondering if anyone knows why the performance-based pain temperature is the case and what to do about it. Help please?
@@ericp.rosenpdpmba9104 My problem is similar, but the remote clicker seems to work sometime when it's warm and none at all when it's cold. Seems to work if I clean the elect plugs, or change them, then nothing. Any ideas?
@@ericp.rosenpdpmba9104 same here, but after cleaning all the plug contacts, after awhile it goes back to not opening or closing as usual; it's really a pain to stand there for 10 minutes cranking it open and closed~
Found the instruction manual online. Pages 14/15 go through this in greater detail. images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/pdfImages/c6/c6aca836-56d7-463f-b0f9-1ca53715e216.pdf