Do You Have To Remove The Solera Slide Topper To Replace The Idler Head On The Roller Tube?

Question:

Does the entire slide topper need to be removed to replace this part? Or can I just unscrew the end from the tube, slide the old one out and new one in? If the pin holding the shaft in the end bracket sheared off, does that release the spring tension? Thank you

asked by: Gene

Expert Reply:

You do not have to remove the entire slide topper to be able to replace the Idler Head and Roll Tube # LC87FR for your Solera slide topper. A second person will be able to support the weight of the tube and fabric in place while the assembly is replaced. Depending on the height of your toppers and the working platform you have it may be safer to pull the entire assembly since you will have small hardware that needs to be removed and installed.

If you are removing the Idler Head # LC87FR only it will not release the spring tension in the Drive Head # LC34FR. The roll pin that holds the shaft on the mounting arm will release the tension on the spring according to Lippert. If there is corrosion inside there it may still lock the shaft in place.

expert reply by: Bud M