Quick answer
If the strap does not wind back, the winder spring is broken or slack, or the strap has jumped off the pulley. Lower the shutter all the way, hold the strap with a clothes peg and take out the two winder screws. Replace the winder with one that has the same strap width (14, 18 or 22 mm) and the same distance between screws, and screw it back on.
What you need
- Phillips or flat screwdriver
- Clothes peg, clamp or sticky tape
- Ruler or callipers to measure strap width and distance between screws
- Safety goggles
- Drill with a 6 mm bit (only if the plugs are broken)
- New shutter winder with the same strap width and distance between screws (Gaviota, Alumbra or another, from Leroy Merlin or Bricodepot)
- 6 mm Fischer plugs and replacement screws
- Silicone oil spray
- Replacement strap if the current one is damaged
Step by step
- 1
Check the strap and the symptom
Pull a little on the strap. If it comes out and does not return, the spring is broken. If it will not come out, something is jamming it. Look at whether the strap is intact. If it is frayed, you will need to replace it as well.
- 2
Lower the shutter all the way
Lower the shutter right down: that leaves the strap short and the spring tension at its minimum. If the shutter is motorised or electric, stop and do not carry on with this guide.
- 3
Hold the strap
Put a peg on the strap, or stick a piece of tape on it, right at the exit from the opening, so it cannot slip into the box when you release the winder.
- 4
Measure the winder
Before removing it, note the strap width (14, 18 or 22 mm) and measure the distance between the two screws. If you can, take a photo. You have to buy an identical replacement.
- 5
Remove the screws and the cover
With the screwdriver, take out the two cover screws. Wear goggles, because a spring may jump, and pull the cover gently towards you: it is usually clipped in.
- 6
Take out the winder
Pull the winder out, releasing the strap from its slot. If the strap has a knot or a clip, undo it carefully and hold it with the peg so you do not lose it inside.
- 7
Check the opening
Check that the opening is clean and the plugs are firm. If the plugs are broken, take out the old screws, drill with a 6 mm bit and fit new Fischer plugs. Brush out the dust.
- 8
Fit the new winder
Feed the strap through the slot in the winder, leave about 5-10 cm of slack and fix the end as the model's instructions say. With the spring not under tension, screw the winder to the wall with a gentle hand.
- 9
Test the shutter
Remove the peg. Pull the strap to raise the shutter, release it slowly and check that it winds in by itself, without jumps and without jamming. Do it five times.
- 10
Refit the cover and lubricate
Put the cover back, tighten the screws and add a touch of silicone spray to the drum, without overdoing it. Wipe off the excess with a cloth.
What a winder does and why it fails
The winder is the part in the wall, at hand height, that the shutter strap comes out of. Inside it has a drum with a coil spring that winds the strap in as the shutter goes down and keeps it under tension so it does not hang loose. It is the mechanism that takes up the strap, not the strap itself, which is why this guide does not repeat how to replace a roller shutter strap: here you are fixing the mechanism.
There are only a few faults and you can tell them apart quickly. If the strap comes out and does not return, the spring has broken or lost its strength. If the strap sticks and will not come out, it has come off the drum or the mechanism is full of dust and rust. If the strap comes out but the winder wobbles in the wall, the screws are loose or the wall plug has broken. If the strap returns very slowly, the spring is tired.
| Symptom | Probable cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The strap comes out and does not return | Broken or loose spring | Replace the winder |
| The strap returns very slowly | Tired spring or dirty drum | Clean or replace the winder |
| The strap will not come out or jams | Strap off the drum, or a blockage | Open it, reseat the strap and clean |
| The winder moves in the wall | Loose screws or plugs | Re-plug with Fischer plugs and screw in |
| Frayed or snapped strap | Worn strap | Replace the strap (another guide) |
How to choose the replacement winder
Buy the exact model, or an equivalent. Check three things: the strap width (14, 18 or 22 mm; on the winder label or measured with a ruler), the distance between the screws (it varies by model, normally around 130-160 mm; measure yours) and whether it is recessed (fits into a hole in the wall) or surface mounted (screws on top). Gaviota and Alumbra are common makes and are found at Leroy Merlin, Bricodepot and in any ferretería (hardware shop).
If you cannot find an identical one, take the old one to the shop. A winder with a different screw spacing forces you to drill new holes and leaves visible ones behind. If your shutter is motorised, this guide is no use to you: there is no winder on those.
Common mistakes when fixing a winder
These are the ones we see most and the ones that cost the most:
- Letting go of the strap with the shutter raised. The weight makes it drop suddenly and the strap slips into the box. Always lower the shutter fully and hold the strap with a peg.
- Opening the drum carelessly. The spring stores tension and can jump out and cut you. If you do open it, wear goggles and keep your face out of the line. It is safer and cheaper to replace the whole part.
- Buying a winder without measuring the strap. A 22 mm strap will not fit an 18 mm winder and twists.
- Screwing down too hard. If the mounting is plastic, it cracks. Tighten with a gentle hand.
- Leaving the strap badly aligned. If it does not run straight over the pulley, it frays within a few months.
- Forcing the shutter. If you pull on the strap with the winder broken, the strap tears and has to be replaced too.
When to call a professional
Call if the shutter box is the kind that does not allow access, if you see that the strap is broken inside, if the shutter has come out of its guide, if the spring is under tension and you do not trust it, or if you have already replaced the winder and it still does not wind. Also if you would simply rather forget about it: our technician replaces it in a single visit.
With the roller shutter repair service, replacing the strap and winder costs €40-70, and a jammed or dropped shutter €50-120. If the strap also needs replacing, it is done on the same visit: the strap replacement rate is €35-60. You will find all the figures in how much it costs to repair a roller shutter. Fixed price by WhatsApp from a photo, arrival in 20-45 minutes in Valencia, Alicante, Torrevieja and Benidorm, and a 6-month written guarantee. If you are in Alicante, see roller shutter repair in Alicante.
Salt air, sun and dust: why it wears out sooner on the coast
On the seafront in Torrevieja, Benidorm, Dénia or Jávea, salt air rusts the springs and the winder screws and makes them fail within a few years. Summer sun dries out the plastics and the strap, and dust from building work and sand gets into the drum and slows the spring. That is why in these areas it pays to choose good quality winders and check them once a year.
Quick maintenance: wipe with a dry cloth, clear the dust from the exit slot and put one drop of silicone oil (not cooking oil) in the drum, without overdoing it. If your shutter still does not go all the way up, see roller shutter will not go up, which may have a different cause, and if it has come out of its guide, roller shutter dropped off track.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my roller shutter not take up the strap?
It is almost always the winder: the spring has broken or is tired, or the strap has come off the drum. More rarely, the strap is tangled or the opening is full of dust and rust. If the strap comes out and does not return, replace the whole winder; it is quicker and safer than repairing it.
How much does it cost to replace a roller shutter winder?
Replacing the strap and winder costs €40-70 labour in Valencia, Alicante and on the Costa Blanca. If the strap needs replacing too, add the strap replacement of €35-60. We give a fixed price by WhatsApp from a photo before we come, with an invoice including IVA (VAT).
Which roller shutter winder should I buy?
One with the same strap width (14, 18 or 22 mm), the same distance between screws and the same type, recessed or surface mounted. Makes such as Gaviota or Alumbra are sold at Leroy Merlin and Bricodepot. The safest thing is to take the old one to the shop, or a photo with measurements.
Can a winder be repaired instead of replaced?
You can open it and reseat the strap if it has only come off the drum, but if the spring is broken or tired it is not worth it: the part is cheap and the spring stores tension. Replacing the whole winder is safer, quicker and longer lasting than fixing an old one.
Does this guide work for motorised shutters?
No. Shutters with an electric motor have no strap winder. If the motor fails, do not touch the wiring: switch off the breaker for that circuit at the consumer unit and call a technician.