Constant force coil springs for a DH Window

Contractor from Boone, IA

Jan 17, 2021 8:43 pm

I'm a contractor trying to fix a window for customer, but I can't tell what size of coil balances I need. They are the type like your Series 196, but I cannot read anything off of the springs. There are 2 springs, piggy backed on each side, so I need one long and one short. The window is a tilt-in, Fairview Double Hung by Trilite Windows. It is approx. 32 x 58 (frame size). Do you have a chart or anything that would help me out?

Also, I am having an issue getting the pics that I took of the springs to download onto my computer, so I can't send the photos either.

Any help you can give me wuold be greatly apprediated!

Thanks!

Dave

14 Replies

Tom from SWISCO

Jan 20, 2021 11:58 am

Hello, Dave. Without photos I can't say for sure what you have. It sounds like you already picked out the springs you need, though, which are our Series 195 and Series 196. If you can't read the stamps on the old springs then you will have to weigh your sash on a scale and divide that by how many springs support it. Then you can pick accordingly.

Contractor from Boone, IA

Jan 20, 2021 5:03 pm

I have not picked out the springs I need. I was saying that they might be it, or at least similar.
So YOu do not have a chart that has the frame size, and tells uou what springs are needed bbased on that??

Tom from SWISCO

Jan 21, 2021 8:33 am

No, that's not how coil balances are identified. Every manufacturer uses their own type of balance, and even the same manufacturer can use a bunch of different balances from window to window. Then you have to account for the installers themselves, who may make last minute changes to get things to work. You'd be amazed what kind of wild stuff you'll see when someone's got a deadline. The kind of chart you're suggesting simply wouldn't be practical. Window size and even window brand won't tell you anything about the coil balance used.

I can ID your balance, but I'll need photos of the originals for reference. I especially need a photo of the pivot shoe, which is the most important detail, in addition to the thickness of the spring itself. We use physical details to ID parts. It's a lot easier and more reliable.

Contractor from Boone, IA

Jan 21, 2021 2:33 pm

Here are the pics that I have. If you need more, let me know. I used to work for the company, Ttilite, that manufactured these windows(Fairview). They, at the time, had a chart that showed what each size window and the balance that they took. They went out of business 10 plus years ago and I've tried all my contacts to hunt down the chart but have had no luck. Let me know if you eed anything else for me and I appreciate any help that you can give me. Thanks! Dave

5 user uploaded images

Tom from SWISCO

Jan 21, 2021 3:24 pm

Thank you. Were you able to get a picture of the pivot shoe, as well? Like I said previously, it's the most important detail. Let me know if you can get that to me.

Contractor from Boone, IA

Jan 29, 2021 12:58 pm

I'll try to get a picture of the shoe.
Meanwhile, the sash weighs about 23 lbs.

Tom from SWISCO

Jan 29, 2021 1:42 pm

Thanks, let me know whenever you can get that.

Contractor from Boone, IA

Feb 3, 2021 1:17 pm

Here are some pics of the pivot shoe.
Let me know if that helps determine what shoes I need. Thanks.
Dave

5 user uploaded images

Tom from SWISCO

Feb 3, 2021 2:27 pm

Thanks, Dave, that's a huge help. That's our 15-111 shoe, which is compatible with two springs: the 3/8" thick Series 165 and the 1/2" thick Series 160. I think these parts are what you want, depending on the thickness of the shoe. Looks to be 1/2" to me, but I'm just eyeballing it.

Contractor from Boone, IA

Feb 4, 2021 1:19 am

The springs are 1/2" wide. But there are 2 on each side (one shorter, and onelonger), and the sash weighs approx. 23 lbs.
So based on that, can you tell me what I need for springs?
I'm guessing a 4.5 short, and a 7.5 long??

Tom from SWISCO

Feb 9, 2021 8:54 am

If your spring is 1/2" thick then you want the Series 160, but there is no long or short version of this spring. I'm not really sure what you mean by that. They should both be the same size.

Since you have two springs per side and your sash weighs 23 pounds then you could probably get away with four 5.5 pound springs. That gives you 22 pounds of support. You could also do one 5.5 and one 6.5 spring on each side, which gives you 24 pounds. It's up to you.

Contractor from Boone, IA

Feb 10, 2021 12:40 pm

I used to work for the manufacturer that made these windows, and when there were two springs on each side the front one was shorter and the back one was longer, As in the pictures I've sent again. I sure wish I could still read what was on the spring so it would make things easier!

2 user uploaded images

Paul from SWISCO

Feb 11, 2021 11:23 am

That must just be an older style. We don't have springs designed this way but I don't think it will matter. In your case it seems both springs attach to the shoe, but in our case the top spring just attaches to the bottom spring. I can't see that making a big difference.

For a 23 pound sash, I recommend an S160-4 and S160-7 as well as the 15-111 shoe.