Damaged Blind/Flyscreen Cassette and Window Stays

[Ian4624]

Trying to sort out some damage in my recently acquired 1994 Bailey PageantCD Auvergne and would welcome any advice anyone may be able to offer:
1) Blind/Fly screen cassette. Bailey owner's handbook states they are "Remis" make.
The one covering the right side window on the front. The cap on one of the top ends is broken and the blind has broken free from the bottom edge bar. I removed the other top end cap and the 3 screws at each end of the top casing and the single visible screw from each of the bottom ends of the sides but there must be another screw at each of the bottom ends which is impossible to see and impossible to access with a screwdrive as it is so close to the window sill. It appears that during manufacture the front window cassettes must have been affixed to the front wall before the window sill and centre drawer unit were installed. Does anone know if it is possible to access these screws without removing the drawer unit and window sill? If not, how difficult is it to remove the window sill?
2) Two of the window stays have damaged locking collars. The stays appear to be easily removeable. Does anyone know whether they are still in production and fitted to current models?
3) All the curtains need to be removed for cleaning. Do they unclip from the little gliders or do the gliders unclip from their runner (as they did on my Musketeer) or is it necessary to remove the runner end stop and slide all the gliders off?
I'm quite prepared to have a go at each of the above but I don't want to cause more problems by going about it the wrong way.

 

[Gafferbill]

........I would make enquiries here https://www.bailey-parts.co.uk/
http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/caravan
.......either may be able to help you.
Due to the age of your caravan you would have to phone them to see if the parts are still available.

 

[Ian4624]

Progress. The first time I visited Bailey's website it didn't recognise my VIN so I contacted Bailey only to be told that they could not help with a 'van of that age. I tried again just searching on parts names and found that various sizes of "Remis" blinds are still available and that the side rails are supplied seperately. So I presumed that if that was the case they must detach easily. They do. It is possible to remove the top section housing the rollers etc. without removing the side rails from the wall. I've done that so all I have to do now is source the correct size and colour of blind.
I also found that there are many different sizes of window stay available.
The curtains are made with a plastic header tape with small balls which popout of (or in to) the curtain rail, so that's another problem solved.

 

[Ian4624]

I've googled remis and trawled around a few of the web sites it threw up. It appears that there are replacement "Remis Take & Trim" blinds available in various sizes comprising the roller and the blind itself, apparently to replace the damaged one without replacing the entire cassette unit.
Has anyone any experience of these?

 

[Ian4624]

I've googled remis and trawled around a few of the web sites it threw up. It appears that there are replacement "Remis Take & Trim" blinds available in various sizes comprising the roller and the blind itself, apparently to replace the damaged one without replacing the entire cassette unit.
Has anyone any experience of these?

I've checked around my local dealers. The "Take & Trim" blinds are not designed for the cassettes. They are meant to be fitted as a single unit, much like a domestic house window roller blind. The roller and damaged blind are easily removeable from the cassette so I'm awaiting replies as to whether a replacement roller and blind are available. That would be the obvious easy way to do it.
I found the tube window stays are available at most dealer shops and mine are 300mms. (The measurement is between the pivots on the two securing brackets.) but only in pairs. I don't need a pair. The damaged stays are from two different windows, both from the Right side of the window looking from inside the 'van. The on-line suppliers specify Right or Left hand stays but are they looking from inside the 'van or outside?

 

[Damian]

Quote " The on-line suppliers specify Right or Left hand stays but are they looking from inside the 'van or outside? "

Inside the van.

 

[Ian4624]

Thanks Damian.

 

[mullsy1]

I once had a 95 CD Cabriolet where I needed to remove the blinds and as you say,impossible without removing the sill.I cheated and allowed the plastic lug to snap.You still have the second bottom screw for the blind.Removing the sill just seemed a nightmare.

 

[Ian4624]

Sunday 5 August and I'm still awaiting a reply from Technical Tom at Leisureshopdirect.com to my enquiry on 22 July. I think that I will have to telephone them tomorrow. I wonder if they've been on an annual shut down.

 

[Ian4624]

Attempts to obtain a replacement blind and roller to fit the cassette proved unsuccessful.
I removed the roller and blind from the cassette after de-tensioning the roller using the adjustment screw at the end. I removed the previous owner's gaffer tape repair and found that the problem was that the blind had split along the stitching just above the bottom rail (the piece that you grasp to pull the blind down). With much use of meths and paper towels and a thumb I managed to remove all the old adhesive so that the vinyl surface of the blind was clean. I removed the end stops from the bottom rail and slid the rail off the remains of the blind material to find that the blind material is secured in the bottom rail by having a hem enclosing a flexible straw which prevents it from pulling out of the bottom rail. After checking that there would be sufficient material left to allow the blind to fully close I cut off the damaged lower portion of the blind,(about an inch). I then formed a new hem around a straightened wire coat hanger and glued it with Evostick Impact. (I used masking tape to ensure that I only had two thin beads of glue on the blind).
Once glued I stapled at intervals along the hem instead of stitching it. Then removed the coat hanger and re-inserted the flexible straw. Slide the bottom rail back on to the hem with the straw retained by the bottom rail and replace the bottom rail end stops. Re-fit the roller and blind into the cassette, tension it up a lttle, re-fit the cassette on to the top of the side rails and screw it back on to the caravan wall. Adjust the tension so that there is just enough for the blind to roll back up and job done.
It appears to work fine but only time and use will tell.

 

[ValA.]

You sound to have done a great job Ian! Well done that man!

 

[Ian4624]

Thanks Val. I have to admit that I'm rather proud of it. It has saved a lot of money.
I posted it in some detail so that, if read in conjunction with my post of July 18th in this thread, others with a similar problem will be able to have a go if they feel inclined. I'm sure I cannot be the only one who has had this problem.

 

[MaryAustin]

Thanks Val. I have to admit that I'm rather proud of it. It has saved a lot of money.
I posted it in some detail so that, if read in conjunction with my post of July 18th in this thread, others with a similar problem will be able to have a go if they feel inclined. I'm sure I cannot be the only one who has had this problem.

You are very correct. I also have the same issue and problem as you. It good that you already resolved your issue and shared it here. It would also enable us to repair ours. I have been into this problem for almost a month and after you've posted the update, I am able to fix it too. Its very hassle if you have a damaged window blinds. It doesn't function well and its really irritating. Thanks for the post by the way.

 

[Ian4624]

Best of luck with your repair MaryAustin. My blind is still working one year on.
I have recently done a similar repair on the kitchen window flyscreen which had had a couple of holes poked into by careless fingers. I didn't use any glue though and stitched the net instead of stapling it. We had to replace our sewing machine to achieve this as the old one broke down half way through the job.