How to Fix a Patio Umbrella Cord

Patio umbrellas have some parts that seem to wear out much sooner than the rest of the umbrella. If it seems like a waste to replace a perfectly good patio umbrella simply because the cord breaks, you are probably right. For a few dollars, and a little effort, you can fix a cord that has broken inside the pole of a patio umbrella and extend the life of your patio umbrella for a few more years. Learn how to fix a patio umbrella cord and sit out under your umbrella in shady comfort.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Umbrella cording
• Flat-head screwdriver
• Putty knife
• Scissors
• Pick up tool

1. Determine the location of the cord break. The most common place for umbrella cording to break is the place that it is attached to the winding bolt, because of the prolonged stress on the cording.

2. Look at how the winding mechanism is constructed. However the retaining rings are attached to the winding mechanism, they will have to be removed. Try sliding the thin blade of the putty knife between the retaining ring and the rest of the mechanism. Once you have loosened the retaining ring enough, try using a screwdriver to wedge off the retaining ring. Remove any other retaining rings as well. Take off one half of the outer part of the mechanism housing when the retaining rings have been removed.

3. Remove any other hardware so that the other outer part of the mechanism housing can also be removed.

4. Cut the existing cording where it is attached to the umbrella ring at the top of the pole to allow the broken cord to be pulled out the bottom of the pole. Drape the end of the cord out the top of the pole, so you don't lose the end.

5. Insert the tool for reaching the broken cord (see Resources) into the bottom of the pole and try to grab the end of the cord and pull it to the bottom opening of the pole. When you have reached the cording, and you have hold of it with the tool, pull carefully but do not pull it so much that you lose the cording at the top of the pole.

6. Tie the new cording securely to the old cording. After it is securely tied, pull the cording back through the pole from the top of the pole and tie the new cording to the lift ring.

7. Insert the tool for grabbing into the crank hole and pull approximately 8 inches of cording out through the hole. Cut the cording at this point and tie it tightly to the crank.

8. Push the knot you just tied into the hole and then reassemble the crank and the housing. Replace the retaining rings by pushing them firmly back in place.

Tips & Warnings

• Melt the ends of the cording with a flame to stop fraying.

References

• How to Fix a Patio Umbrella

Resources

• Plumbers Surplus: Tool to Reach the Cording