There is a diagram to go with this please contact me for a copy.
It is a good idea to keep the parasol in it’s stand (H) and work on it using a step ladder.
If you remove it because that seems more convenient to work on it you may easily damage the parasol cover supports where they join together at A and B because these joints aren’t designed to take sideways forces which will likely occur as you trip over them or catch them on something!
2. The diagram shows the parasol about half raised (for clarity). If you are restringing it then it will be in the full lowered position because the string ( ) has snapped.
3. Buy some new string - it takes quite a lot C > A > E > B > F.
The smallest hole through which the string has to pass is the hole in the winder spindle for raising and lowering the parasol shown at G (the crank). The string is usually braided synthetic. In our case the string had to be very carefully trimmed at an angle with very light singing to stop it fraying to manage to get it through this hole.
4. Though the restringing may be possible with the cover still on by just removing the cap covering the pulleys at A it may be necessary to pull back the cover by removing the parasol stays from the pockets around the edge (D).
5. Remove the broken string making note of where each piece of the mechanism now not attached was placed. There may, for example, be a guide for the string in the bottom of T1 (tube 1).
Remove the string from the crank - There may be a cover for the mechanism. If so remove it. This will expose how the crank is fixed on the opposite side of T3 to the winder. There may be some sort of ratchet arrangement. Take careful note of how anything you have to remove is fixed and remove as little as possible to allow the crank to be withdrawn so that the old string may be removed.
6. Thread the new string.
a. Start at A (you may need a step ladder). Trim one end of the string carefully then insert into the braiding a heavy as possible round headed nail (point first) leaving an inch or so of nail protruding. The string plus nail must be able to pass the top pulley at A. With synthetic braiding you can melt the cord onto the nail so that it doesn’t drop out by heating it with a gentle flame. This also stops fraying. Keep the cord as straight as possible as you do this!
b. Pass the nailed ending of the string into T2 (probably of box rather than tubular section). Keep the tube T1 at a slight angle (probably less than shown in the diagram) so that when it arrives at the bottom it will be at the correct side of the pulley. If it doesn’t simply drop through than at least the protruding end of the nail should be able to be pulled to bring the cord through. Once you’ve done that you’ve done the most difficult bit of the threading.
c. Pass the string up and over the pulley possibly set into the main tubular support at B. You may have to use a smaller nail as a weight because of the limited clearance inside the tube but this should be ok as this tube is likely wider than the previous one and there are less obstructions in it and it can be vertical rather than slightly slanted. Once the cord has passed the hole through which the crank is fixed hook it out (a bent nail does this fine).
e. Back to point A - with the other end if the string. Make sure that the string is lying correctly on the pulleys (it may need to pass through a hole in the mechanism at A to do this). Thread it down the central tube, through any guides and eventually through a hole in the mechanism of struts at C . Tie a knot in the string.
f. Back to point F. Pull the loose string through and check that it is resting correctly on each pulley. You should be able to raise the canopy mechanism a little way to check that it is operating smoothly by just pulling on the string.
g. Thread the string through the crank. Tie a knot in it so that there is just enough length to put the knot through the hole in T3 before the crank spindle [Passing the crank spindle and knot through at the same time may be difficult]
7. Refix the crank checking carefully any ratchet system. Wind the handle (direction according to the ratche mechanism) to bring the string into very light tension. Check again that the string is seated correctly in each pulley.
8. Replace the cover if you needed to pull it back and replace the cap over the top pulleys.
9. Raise the parasol and relax!
10. PS - have read some instructions suggesting pulling/pushing the string through the tubes using a straightened coat hanger. Ah well if the above method fails you give this alternative a go.
When you lower the parasol keep the string under slight tension so that being slack it doesn’t jump the pulleys. If on winding the parasol up subsequently it seems unduly tight then the string has probably jumped one of the pulleys - which may be why the string broke in the first place!
orsolina, August 2009
