How To Deal With A Stiff Roller Blind Chain

What To Do If Your Roller Blind Mechanism Is Stiff

Are you finding it hard to operate your roller blind? You may have found the mechanism works easily when the blind is going down, but it is a real struggle to get the blind back up. You may even have broken the chain with the excessive force you have to apply to it to raise the blind.

Do not worry, it is highly likely the solution is a lot more straightforward than you think.

The first thing you need to do is look at the brackets. In particular, take a look at the bracket on the end opposite the mechanism. In the trade, we call this the pin-end due to the compressible pin that sticks out of the end.

This pin’s purpose is to make it easier to get the blind out of the brackets. The pin is compressed when pushed against the bracket which lets you pop the mechanism end out of the bracket.

If the sprung pin is full compressed and the bracket is touching the barrel of the blind, it will act as a brake. This will make the mechanism stiff to operate and this often indicates that the brackets have been fitted too close.

The easiest fix is to try to bend the bracket away from the barrel slightly. There should be a part of the pin visible (see image left).

If this isn’t possible, you’ll need to remove and refit one or both of the brackets. If it's inside a recess you can side-fix the brackets to the wall of the recess if you find yourself struggling for space to top fix the brackets. You need to create a gap between the bracket and barrel that will allow the barrel to rotate without any friction from the bracket.

Nine times out of 10 this will fix the problem but in case it does not, here are a few more troubleshooting tips to solve a stiff roller blind mechanism:

1. Ensure the bottom bar of the blind isn’t getting snagged in the recess. Check that there is not a difference in width at the top and bottom of the window. If the bottom is narrower than the top, the bottom bar could be getting wedged. Bring the brackets forward to help keep the bottom bar outside of the recess.

2. Check the half-moon cover on the mechanism is at the top. This covers the top part of the chain and keeps it from coming out. If it isn’t at the top it will obstruct the chain and cause it to be tough to operate. You will probably notice a rattling sound when the chain is pulled as the beads rattle against the plastic.

3. Check for any kinks or defects in the chain. This one is rare but there is a possibility a join may be slightly off or the beads in the chain are damaged and this would require a new chain.

If none of these tips solve the problem, get in touch and our friendly team of experts will endeavour to fix it for you.

Did you enjoy this content? Click the picture below to get more content in our newest eBook!