Stiff Seitz blinds

Apr 9, 2006
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Some of the Seitz blinds in our Swift Challenger have become very stiff to open and close.
They are the pleated sort, which show foil on the outside and they have a net flyscreen attached.
Does anyone know if there is anything we can do to make it easier to raise and lower them?
Would appreciate to hear from anyone else have had this problem and know how you solved it.
 
Jul 18, 2017
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Common problem and even though you squirt lubricant which makes it easier for a few pulls, eventually the blinds come apart at the bottom. In our previous 2011 Lunar caravan we had blinds replaced 3 times.
 
Nov 16, 2015
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Tried all sorts of dry lubricants on the blinds , now just use a gentle slow pull down, only happens on the front blinds and not the side ones. Strange.
 
Apr 9, 2006
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Many thanks for your replies.
Our front centre blind was so stiff it took two of us to close/open it and while we've been away on a trip, it has finally broken. Ordered a new one through our dealer (£197!) and have just received it, but we will take Damian's advice and try spraying silicone lubricant on the tracks of the others.
 
Nov 4, 2007
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Yes. I've had and solved this problem. The cord is too tight. Remove the blind unit. 2 screws at the top each side and 1 screw each side at the bottom. The bottom screw is hidden by a cover which is prized off with a small screwdriver.
The the cord is attached to a plastic cap at the bottom of the runners.
Remove the screw holding these bottom caps in place and pull down and sideways.
The cord can now be unhooked from the bottom cap.
Thread a small cable tie through the cord and round the bottom cap on both sides.
Reassemble and refit to the caravan.
Now you need to tighten the cable ties to re-tension the cord.
The tighter the cord tension the harder the blinds are to move. If the tension is too slack the blinds will lower when towing.
 
Nov 16, 2015
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As an add on to Danddandys posting, I found this.
https://www.practicalcaravan.com/advice/32198-how-to-repair-seitz-pleated-blinds-and-flyscreens.
 
Apr 9, 2006
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Thanks for that information Danddandy & EH52ARH, which will be very useful to others, who will no doubt come across this problem at some time.
 
May 24, 2014
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There is another possibility. When the manufacturers fit the blinds, they very rarely get the vertical runners straight, and further, they often support the centre of the runners with double sided tape. If the tape fails or the verticals arent lined up as they should be, you may find that the blind jumps the track and feels very stiff. Take a look and see if the blind runner has somehow jumped over the slightly raised track. Very easy to click back into place.
 
Nov 4, 2007
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I had a similar issue with the blinds catching on the rubber window surround at the top of the window. I noticed that at the bottom of the runners there is a self adhesive rubber buffer (the sort that stop cupboard doors banging shut). This has the effect of positioning the runners away from the window. So I used beer mats cut to shape to pack out the top of the bind unit.
 
Jul 18, 2017
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mealsonwheels said:
Many thanks for your replies.
Our front centre blind was so stiff it took two of us to close/open it and while we've been away on a trip, it has finally broken. Ordered a new one through our dealer (£197!) and have just received it, but we will take Damian's advice and try spraying silicone lubricant on the tracks of the others.

When you say broken, what actually broke?
 

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