Repair and replacement · Rolling Shutter Guide
How do I replace a rolling shutter pull-strap box?
Lower the shutter fully, open the old box, unhook the strap from the spring drum and lock the drum with its locking tab. Unscrew the box, mount the new one at waist height directly below the diamond roller, hook the slit strap end on the drum lug, then release the spring so the strap coils.
Key facts
- Mount the pull-strap box directly below the diamond roller at about waist height; a strap that enters the box at an angle wears out early. Roll-A-Shield data
- A pull-strap box is held to the wall with two fasteners, and the strap should hang about 1 ft below it. Roll-A-Shield data
- The drum inside is spring-loaded; once the locking tab is caught by the locking arm the drum cannot spin, so it is safe to unhook the strap. Roll-A-Shield data
- Roll-A-Shield's strap shutters, and the pull-strap box that drives them, use a 15 mm flat strap; 15 mm strap manual shutters carry a 1-year warranty. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Pull-strap (strap-box) rolling shutters with a wall-mounted spring-drum box, including Roll-A-Shield's. Crank boxes are a different part.
A pull-strap box is the wall-mounted box on the inside of the room that the strap runs into. Inside it, a spring-loaded drum takes up the slack strap as you raise the shutter and lets it out as you lower it. When that drum no longer coils the strap, or the box itself is cracked or broken, the box is replaced as one unit; the shutter, strap and diamond roller stay where they are.
Following a published Roll-A-Shield guide does not void the warranty. Mains wiring must be done by a licensed electrician.
Is it the box or the strap?
Look at the strap first: a frayed or snapped strap is a strap job, not a box job.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Strap snapped or frayed | Worn strap | Replace the strap |
| Strap hangs slack and will not coil back | Drum still locked, or the box mechanism has failed | Check the locking tab is released; if it is, replace the box |
| Box cracked or broken | Damaged box | Replace the box |
| Strap wears through quickly | Box not directly below the diamond roller | Re-mount the box straight below the roller |
What do I need?
- A replacement pull-strap box (Roll-A-Shield sells them in the parts store)
- Flathead and Phillips screwdrivers
- Scissors, for the slit in the strap end
- A pencil, a drill and fasteners suited to your wall
Roll-A-Shield's strap shutters use a 15 mm flat strap. On another maker's shutter, check that your strap fits under the new box's flap before you start.
How do I take the old box off?
Lower the shutter fully first, so the curtain is resting on the sill and nothing is hanging on the strap.
- Pry open the front edge of the box with your fingertips and gently unwrap the strap from the round spring drum.
- Slide the strap off the strap lug, the small metal tab on the drum.
- Turn the drum counter-clockwise until the locking tab shows, then pull the tab back with a screwdriver so the locking arm holds the drum and it cannot spin.
- Unscrew the box from the wall.
Safety: The spring inside the drum is very strong. Keep a firm grip on the strap whenever the drum is unlocked, and keep your fingers out of the box while it turns.
How do I fit the new box?
The new box goes directly below the diamond roller, so the strap drops straight into it.
- Hold the new box against the wall directly below the diamond roller at about waist height, with the small swivel brackets at the top and bottom flat against the wall and the opening and metal flap at the top.
- Mark the holes, then fix the box with two fasteners.
- Fold the end of the strap up and cut a small vertical slit in the center, about 1 in from the end. About 1 ft of strap should hang below the box.
- Lift out the small metal flap at the top of the box, run the strap underneath it straight and untwisted, and put the flap back.
- Pull the strap down around the drum and slide the slit over the strap lug. Give it a couple of tugs to make sure it is on.
- Using both hands, pull the strap so the drum turns slightly counter-clockwise and the locking tab lifts off the locking arm. Keep one hand on the strap just behind the lug and press the tab into the opening behind it with a screwdriver.
- Hold the strap and let the drum turn slowly as it coils the slack.
- Pull the strap to raise and lower the shutter a few times, then close the box.
To raise the shutter, pull the strap straight down; to lower it, grab the strap near the box and pull it toward your waist so the shutter comes down slowly.
My old box has two pins on the lock. Does that matter?
Older pull-strap boxes have an anti-drift lock with two fixed pins, and the strap runs over both of them; the newer box has no pins, and the strap simply passes under the lock. Thread the strap the way your new box is built, not the way the old one was.
What if the strap still won't coil?
If the slack stays loose after step 7, the locking tab has not been released: pull the strap again to lift the tab and press it down. If the drum turns but the strap slips, check the slit is fully over the lug. If the shutter itself is hard to raise or sticks in the rails, the box is not the problem; see Why won't my manual shutter move?
What next
A replacement pull-strap box, strap and diamond rollers are in the Roll-A-Shield parts store. In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield's service team services rolling shutters of any make; elsewhere, call (480) 921-0200.
Watch it done
Service tutorial: pull-strap box replacement
The written steps on this page are the reference; the video shows the same job.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a new strap when I replace the box?
Not if the old strap is sound and still reaches about 1 ft below the box; the new box hooks onto the same strap. If the strap is frayed, replace it at the same time.
Why does my pull strap keep wearing out?
The usual cause is a box that is not directly below the diamond roller, so the strap enters it at an angle. Roll-A-Shield's install manual mounts the box straight below the roller at about waist height for that reason.
Can I put a crank box where the pull-strap box was?
A crank box mounts in the same place, directly below the diamond roller, but with four fasteners, and it needs about 3 ft of strap below it instead of about 1 ft, so you will usually need new strap. Call (480) 921-0200 to confirm it suits your shutter.
Is it safe to work on the spring drum?
Yes, once the locking tab has caught on the locking arm, because the drum cannot spin. The spring is strong, so keep a firm grip on the strap whenever you release the lock and let the drum turn slowly.
Parts and next step
Need a part or a hand?
Pull-strap boxes, strap and diamond rollers are in the Roll-A-Shield parts store. For anything else, call (480) 921-0200 with a photo of your box. Call (480) 921-0200; the factory answers technical questions for any rolling shutter, not only ours.