Omnivent roof fan difficult to open vent

DavidN
DavidN Forum Participant Posts: 90
edited July 2016 in Caravans #1

Hi. Can anyone tell me how to lubricate the opening mechanism on the vent lid as mine seems so stiff it is almost impossible to open.

Thanks

Dave

 

Comments

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #2

    Not directly but a couple of months ago Practical Caravan Magazine had an article about Omnivent servicing, that may give you a clue?

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited July 2016 #3

    We had this problem several times during the 8 years we had our previous van. About once a year or so I put the ladder alongside the van and sprayed silicon polish into the hinge area then opened and closed a few times. The polish was the non water based
    type that I used inside the car, fast dash or something like that.

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #4

    Not directly but a couple of months ago Practical Caravan Magazine had an article about Omnivent servicing, that may give you a clue?

    Pages 120 and 121 of the April edition if you can get a back copy or I'll scan mine and post a link to it.

    photo 78301b06-7bdd-45fe-8ae2-d4d2cae14135_zpssi5htrez.jpg

  • DavidN
    DavidN Forum Participant Posts: 90
    edited July 2016 #5

    Not directly but a couple of months ago Practical Caravan Magazine had an article about Omnivent servicing, that may give you a clue?

    Pages 120 and 121 of the April edition if you can get a back copy or I'll scan mine and post a link to it.

    photo 78301b06-7bdd-45fe-8ae2-d4d2cae14135_zpssi5htrez.jpg

    Jillwithajay Hi,

    Thanks for the offer to scan and post the Practical Caravan article I would be very pleased to see that, thankyou

    Dave 

  • dwlgll20
    dwlgll20 Forum Participant Posts: 139
    edited July 2016 #6

    You can find the full article on the Practical Caravan website.

     

     

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
    500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #7

    There you go David.   Many thanks to dwlgll20 for the link.

    photo 78301b06-7bdd-45fe-8ae2-d4d2cae14135_zpssi5htrez.jpg

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited July 2016 #8

    Having just replaced the touch controller on ours (apparently they regularly fail) we took the opportunity to thoroughly clean ours while it was dismantled. But access to the raise and tilt mechanism would have required even more dismantling, so we didn't.
    Every Omnivent that we've ever had, stuck at the start of the opening sequence. Now we turn the knob for raising it so that there's tension in the cam, then walk away for a couple of minutes, no more, and wait for the sound of it suddenly freeing off, of its
    own accord. After which its business as usual. It seems that patience is the easiest solution.

  • chrisn7
    chrisn7 Forum Participant Posts: 72
    edited July 2016 #9

    Next time you have a coffee and get given one of those flat stirrers, keep it! They are just right to keep in the cutlery drawer and pass neatly through the grille - a gentle push with a little bit of tension on it and it will spring up every time - had
    one for years...

  • HT11
    HT11 Forum Participant Posts: 100
    edited July 2016 #10

    We had the same problem and my husband cleaned the runners and put on the sliders above the vent and it's solved the problem. 

  • DavidN
    DavidN Forum Participant Posts: 90
    edited July 2016 #11

    Thanks everyone for your replies, much appreciated. I have not yet looked at the Practical Caravan article but I have poured some light oil into the area of the opening mechanism and it seems to have done the trick.

    I like the suggestion to just put a bit of opening tension on the knob and then leave it a moment until it frees it's self, almost makes me hope it sticks again just to be able to try this!

    Thanks

    Dave

  • HT11
    HT11 Forum Participant Posts: 100
    edited July 2016 #12

    sorry re my earlier response- I missed out the word Vaseline to smear on the sliders and its working smoothly now.

  • PrestonDave
    PrestonDave Forum Participant Posts: 67
    edited July 2016 #13

    Silicon spray works woders on many plastic parts.

  • alexthomson
    alexthomson Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited October 2018 #14

    My omnivent was sticking the opposite corner from the opening mechanism . I cleaned the frame and inside the dome where they close together then applied some grease and now it open and closes no problems. 

  • jlseagull
    jlseagull Forum Participant Posts: 39
    First Comment
    edited October 2018 #15

    We had a similar problem and I found if you switch the fan onto exhaust as you open it the air pressure helps to lift it first time every time.  Similar principle to giving it a gentle push with a probe I assume.

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