"20B BSI FN" Tilt window sash balance

Quick Learner from CA
Mar 25, 2020 10:59 pm
20" tilt window sash balance with indent in channel at spring end. Need a pair, and the shoes that go with them if it is possible to identify them without an image.
EAB8CDA5-1B94-4D8B-8F50-FBC9EB3CDC82 0094A2C8-E9BE-4B4C-88BC-A696CA8228FC 43673D26-C8B2-4F43-84E9-00A45BFAD886 B1C0D2FB-A03E-44B8-B5B6-F95A93AE9B03
4 user uploaded images
9 Replies
Bob
Bob from SWISCO
Mar 26, 2020 11:13 am
SWISCO
EXPERT

Thanks for posting. This looks similar to an S795-20. You'll need a version of the old T-Lock Shoe to confirm whether you can use the one that comes by default with these balances (or 15-195 1-1/4" Closed Cam T-Lock Shoe), or if you need to swap it out with the 15-195B or 15-194, sold separately, instead. Also confirm that this balance attaches to the top of the window track with a screw-on tab. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Quick Learner from CA
Mar 27, 2020 6:58 pm
Hi Bob. The shoes are missing from the frame, and it sounds like the tenant threw them away. I therefore photographed and measured the part of the frame where the shoes would be installed. It had a depth of 1/2", the width of the gap where the shoe would be inserted is 3/4", and the total width of the recess where the shoe would fit appears to be at or just under 1.25", with most of that extra 1/2" of space being on the interior side of the frame. Photos attached. Based on these details and photos, are you able to recommend a shoe for this frame that is also compatible with the 795 series counterbalances?

Note: There are indeed screws at the top of the frame where the counterbalances were previously attached; I found a remnant of the broken metal tab which attaches to the end of the counterbalance cord in one of these screws.
E884AB0B-D0BF-4673-949B-8117DF841800 9D3F3F26-282E-43F5-BB3A-FEA5C787A06C 1F452167-31FA-48C4-87EC-35AA17AD479D 35BAF73F-DD7E-4EF5-BD77-F7143D5434ED 62567E81-4955-42D6-B44B-1445B3FAC5D8
5 user uploaded images
Quick Learner from CA
Mar 27, 2020 7:04 pm
A couple other pieces of hardware are also broken/missing from this window. The latch is broken, and there is also one of two tabs missing from the upper interior side of the frame; I am not familiar with this part and do not know it's name/purpose. If you could help me identify appropriate replacements for these parts too, it would be a big help. Thank you.
265F584B-9A6F-46AA-BFB7-0C616D1CBD4B D351D2A6-9352-4093-9264-15E41AD3BF3A 9AC623AA-7BB5-487E-A14D-3F0B3616C9AB 07839A45-4D3C-45C4-B034-F122AE638592 98B61940-C6C7-4409-96D3-0AB99B6ED02F
5 user uploaded images
Bob
Bob from SWISCO
Apr 1, 2020 2:46 pm
SWISCO
EXPERT

Is there an identical window in the house that still has balances with the shoes intact? If so, could you show them to us? As far as your other hardware, the old sash lock is no longer made, but you should be able to replace it with our 90-313, which you can install with screws like our 30-011. As far as the other piece embedded in the frame, I am not certain what it is. Is it a vent latch, or a weep hole cover? Let us know and we'll go from there. Many thanks. 

Quick Learner from CA
Apr 1, 2020 11:04 pm
Hi Bob.,

Regarding the shoes, yes, I thought of that and looked, but all the other windows in the house are different for some reason. Perhaps it's because the window is for the bathroom and the window glass is frosted unlike all the other windows. Is it not possible to identify a compatible sash shoe based on the size measurements? I would even buy a couple different pairs just to be safe, if you are not 100% sure.

The tab, which may be a weep hole cover, is not super important, so I will ignore it. Thank you very much for your recommendation for a latch; I am almost ready to place an order!
Bob
Bob from SWISCO
Apr 2, 2020 2:13 pm
SWISCO
EXPERT

Hey, thanks for getting back to me. While I hate not being able to narrow it down further, I do think it's probably best to buy the S795-20, along with two extra shoes, the 15-194 and 15-195B (the 15-195 comes by default with the Series 795). I'll post a video below that shows how to swap out the shoes. To be honest, my suspicion is the 15-195 is what you need based on your measurements, but it's always best to confirm. Fair enough on the vent cover. Let me know if you have any other questions, and many thanks for your business, we really do appreciate in these times. 

Quick Learner from CA
Apr 3, 2020 3:56 pm
Hi Bob,

Thank you so much for your help. After looking at the installation video you posted and some others, I suspect that I am missing one last part for this job. The window sash doesn't have the tabs at each bottom corner that would allow for installation into the channel balance shoes. There are screws in the sash where the tabs would go, but they are missing. It's possible the tenant removed them or they broke off when the other hardware failed. I've attached some pictures of the sash, as well as a photo of a broken hardware piece I found in the frame that might be one of the tabs. What is the proper part name for these tabs, and does Swisco sell replacement ones?

Thanks again!
EE1A4AD3-9F73-4342-B0E9-883A6307B21D D6350645-4B2B-477E-B02B-C522AE9ECE19 0B4A6A5D-9506-4E3D-94C3-413E7FA95CC5 E051265F-CA62-4C2C-9987-B4732A73E42B 5D172B20-2375-4231-B81D-20851909F681
5 user uploaded images
Bob
Bob from SWISCO
Apr 6, 2020 11:44 am
SWISCO
EXPERT

Looks like you need new pivot bars. I'm afraid I can't really say what pivot bars you need looking at fragments alone, but two commonly used with the Series 795 are the 26-021 and 26-366. Look these over and see if you think one of these might be what you need. 

Quick Learner from CA
May 17, 2020 3:15 am
Hi Bob,

Just wanted to let you know that I successfully repaired my tenant's window with the parts you found for me. Swisco's 795-20 channel balances were indeed compatible with the factory installed shoe. The 26-201 pivot bars were the correct bars; if I had looked more carefully at the bottom pledge of the window frame, I would have been able to show you the hardware photo below which would have made the choice clear. The other photo is the repaired window. I'll keep the extra parts for future jobs.

Thanks again!
Products and resources found in this discussion
Reply to Thread
Use this form to ask a follow-up question or to share your experience regarding this subject.
Current wait time is 3-4 business days
We promise that one of our experts will personally get back to you as soon as they are able. Thank you very much for your patience and understanding. If your inquiry is time-sensitive, please feel free to reach us at (888) 991-1929 or at help@swisco.com.
Need help identifying your part?
Send a photo or description to our Parts Experts!
Identify Your Part
SWISCO Part Experts