How to Replace Lift Tape in a Hunter Douglas EasyRise Cellular Shade

Video ID: 181023

Introduction

Sometimes the flat lift tape inside a honeycomb shade can become damaged or break. This guide walks you through the steps to remove and replace lift tape on a Hunter Douglas brand EasyRise cellular honeycomb shade.

A Note on Safety

Kids can strangle in blind cords. To make your blinds safer for kids, keep cords out of reach and secure cord and bead chain loops. To learn more, please visit our child safety guide.

Tools Needed

Flat-head Screwdriver
Scissors
Clear Tape
Rubber Bands

Step 1 – Remove the shade from the window.


Step 2 – Use rubber bands to keep the shade compressed.

  • Place one rubber band around each end of the shade.

Step 3 – Remove the buckles from the pockets in the bottom rail.


Step 4 – Remove the lift tape from the buckles.


Step 5 – Remove the shaft retainer from the drive shaft.

  • You may need to use a flathead screwdriver to pry the shaft retainer loose.

Step 6 – Slide the clutch out of the headrail.


Step 7 – Slide the drive shaft out of the open end on the headrail.


Step 8 – Remove the lift tape spools from the headrail.

  • The spools can be removed by gently twisting them inside the headrail.

Step 9 – Remove any lift tape that is attached to the spools.

  • A flathead screwdriver can be useful in removing the tape.

Step 10 – Cut a piece of replacement lift tape for each lift tape spool.

  • The length of each piece of lift tape should be the length of the shade plus 12”.

Step 11 – Thread the tape up through the shade fabric starting at the pockets in the bottom rail.

  • Use the 1.2mm restring needle for this step.
  • It is very important to avoid twisting the tape when you are threading the tape through the shade.

Step 12 – Rotate the lift tape spool so that the slotted tab is at the 1 o’clock position.


Step 13 – Thread the lift tape through the bottom of the lift tape spool through the slotted tab.


Step 14 – Push the end of the lift tape back through the slotted tab leaving a large loop.


Step 15 – Push the end of the lift tape underneath the section of lift tape coming up the long slot.

  • This is easy to do if you raise the tape slightly with a flat head screwdriver.

Step 16 – Pull the looped section of the lift tape around the pin.

  • Pull on the lift tape where it comes out of the bottom of the lift tape spool to make sure that it does not slip.

Step 17 – Install the lift tape spools into the headrail.

  • Gently twist the lift tape spools into place in the headrail to lock them in place.

Step 18 – Pull the tape from the bottom rail.

  • All the spools should be fully unwound and the slotted groove should be at the 1 o’clock position.

Step 19 – Insert the drive shaft through the lift tape spools.

  • There is one groove on the drive shaft that is slightly deeper than the other two grooves. Make sure that the deeper groove lines up with the largest notch on the inside of the lift tape spools.

Step 20 – Install the clutch assembly.

  • Make sure the notches are lined up correctly with the grooves on the drive shaft.

Step 21 – Reattach the shaft retainer to the drive shaft on the clutch side of the spool assembly.


Step 22 – Thread the tape through the buckles.

  • Leave the extra tape hanging from the bottom.

Step 23 – With the rubber bands still on the shade, remount the shade in the window.


Step 24 – While holding the bottom rail, cut the rubber bands off of the shade.


Step 25 – Lower the shade slowly by hand to the bottom of the window.

  • It is important to make sure that the tape is not being twisted.

Step 26 – If necessary, adjust the location of the buckles on the lift tape.

  • This allows you to raise or lower the bottom rail of the shade so it hangs evenly exactly where needed.

Step 27 – Finish threading the tape in the buckles to lock it in place.


Step 28 – Insert the buckles into the pockets making sure they are seated tightly.

  • Trim the excess tape leaving 1” of tape hanging from the pocket.

Step 29 – Tape down the lift tape to the bottom rail.


Step 30 – Test the repair by raising and lowering the shade.