Easy Fix for Patio Umbrella Cord
- By Joan
- July 16, 2018
- 26 Comments
Easy Fix for Patio Umbrella Cord
It’s summertime, it’s hot, I need shade and my patio umbrella just sits there sad and droopy. The umbrella is only about a year old, I’ve only used it a dozen or so times and the rope has already frayed and broken.
The umbrella is in perfect shape, I just can’t raise it.
While there are Patio umbrella Replacement Cords available online (the one I highlighted is $16), they would involve taking apart the handle mechanism and restringing. That didn’t sound too easy and what’s to prevent the fraying from happening again?
I’ve got a much easier fix for you and it might even be free depending on what you already have on hand.
Here is the frayed cord, it’s not lifting any umbrella any time soon.
Supplies you’ll need for this easy patio umbrella cord fix are a metal drill bit, a drill and a allen wrench. If you shop at IKEA then you probably have a bunch of the allen wrenches lying around.
Open the umbrella and turn it upside down. Drill a hole all the way thru the pole just under the spokes large enough for the allen wrench to have a little wiggle room to slide in and out.
Insert the allen wrench and BOOM, you’re done.
Back in business. Did I mention this was an easy fix?
Have a great week.
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You are BRILLIANT !!! I don’t have that type because I got tired of those breaking on me all the time and didn’t realize they could be fixed ! What an idiot I am !! lol I posted on Facebook, Pinned and tweeted it out because everyone should know your trick !! Thank you so much, I’m sure I’ll be able to use this some day. That makes me wonder if the crank style umbrellas ever break, can you use your trick on those ?
This started out as a crank style. It’s cranking no more.
Then you may as well use Duct Tape.
I started trying to replace the cord, but everything in there was so corroded and impossible to work with that I googled and came up with your soluition.
BRILLIANT! Took me about 5 minutes and saved me from a lot of trips to the hardware store to get cord, a cotter pin, and that’s just what I knew I was in for.
This is definitely news you can use!
I consider myself a pretty handy person but kudos to you for the umbrella. I had just watched a YouTube video on how to replace the string and had everything apart when I decided to search for other repair videos.
Came across your ‘fix’ and 5 minutes later I was in the shade again.
This is silly. Now ask your wife to raise the umbrella! The right fix takes 30 minutes. Why not do it right? If you use common sense in cranking ti, the cord is good for 10 years.
I used this fix because after I took the crank apart I had no confidence I could put it back together right because the little gear is held on by a little spring-like pin and that just fell apart so I had no idea how it was supposed to go back together. I have had umbrellas without a crank before, with just a string on a pulley and a pin to hold it up, like this fix, so I was happy to turn my crank umbrella into one of those and now it works! Oh and BTW, I am a woman in my 60s and I can pull it up and put the pin in or out no problem.
I have the same Canadian Tire umbrella, and it bends in the middle. The chalkenge is to get the new rope down the tube ans through one of the two holes inside the elbow. I haven’t succeeded in taking that apart. Any tips?
How do you get the umbrella up?
Brilliant. I shall n for fixing it “correctly” but didn’t want to spend half the day. Honestly this is easier than cranking it when a storm is coming and you’re in a hurry! I used a screwdriver instead. Same premise. Thank you!
Whatever you have. I also didn’t want to go thru the trouble of fixing the cord and it happening again the next season. Glad it worked.
this was great. thank you!
Brilliant, I always hated cranking the umbrella up in the first place.
Easiest cheapest fix ever!!!
The cord is intact but the crank itself came apart. I put it back together as I thought it might go but then I could only raise the umbrella. Not put it down.
This is great! Thanks. As soon as the rain stops, I’m going to give it a try!
That was absolutely great!!!
That didn’t tell us how to replace the cord.
Excellent quick fix!
Will this work on an LED umbrella?
I would think it could work as long as you avoid any electrical wires inside the pole. I have not tried it myself.
I couldn’t find a replacement cord at a store near me and after reading your DIY trick, my husband and I tried it and works really well. We kept the cord going through the little wheel and use that to raise the umbrella and we put an old screw driver through the pole and happy to report that it works great. We don’t need the handle part anymore so we removed it. Thanks so much for your suggestion.
Any suggestion on another parasol with a tilting mechanism that broke and won’t stay straight, it only bends now?
I know this post is a few years old, but I’m hoping you will reply. I am trying to do what you did, but I cannot seem to drill a hole through the aluminum shaft of my umbrella no matter what I do. I have tried all kinds of bits, but it is no simple task, what kind did you use it to go through I am 74 yr old woman still handy as always…. I thought for sure I was going to be able to drill the hole, but I can’t get it to stand still on the pool the bit to stand on the pool and grab the hole. How did you do it please🥰
Use a drill bit that is specifically made for drilling thru metal. Try laying the umbrella on its side, the fabric from the umbrella will keep it from turning too much.
This is brilliant! I didn’t want to throw away my umbrella because it’s only been used one season but I’ve tried repairing cords with cranks that bend before and it’s too much trouble. Took me longer to find an Allen wrench than it did to fix it. I’ll be sharing this with everyone!!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. FREE FIX in minutes!
I can’t thank you enough for this fix! I was all set to tackle the complicated and detailed task of replacing the cord when I came across your instructions! You saved me so much time, and $$ during these hot, hot days of summer!