Crank Operator Handle

Home Owner from USA

Jun 22, 2021 1:45 pm

Hi. Received the handles today, but the housing that sits on the cog is too
small. The housing I'm trying to replace is 3/8". The housing of the handle that
I received today appears to be 5/16".
Do you have the handles with the (slightly) larger housing?
Otherwise, the color and size seems right.

If it helps, I'm attaching 2 photos. In each, the handle on the right is the one I'm trying
to replace. The handle on the left is the one (of 2) I received today.

Please let me know how I can go about returning these two handles and whether you
have the larger ones.

2 user uploaded images

7 Replies

Tom from SWISCO

Jun 24, 2021 1:29 pm

Thanks for reaching out to us. I'm afraid I don't know what you mean when you say "housing" in this case. Are you referring to the size of the hole? If so, the size of the hole on our handle is 11/32", which is the standard size for Truth brand operators.

Is your operator a different brand? If it is, can you show me a few photos of it so that I can try to find a better match for you?

Home Owner from USA

Jun 24, 2021 9:16 pm

Hi. I'm afraid I don't know the name of operator. Inside the cover of our operator are the letters RAX (vertically) and a number: P-1496-200. The name of the manufacturer of the windows we have is Simonton. I looked online for them, which ultimately led me to Swisco.

11/32" is very close to my measurement of the hole on the handle I received from Swisco. But that is slightly too small. Is there something slightly larger?

In addition to the photos of the handles (the one I'm trying to replace is on the right), attaching photos of the operator (without the cover). Hoping you will recognize it.

5 user uploaded images

Tom from SWISCO

Jun 25, 2021 2:36 pm

Thank you. Your operator is an Encore-style operator made by Truth. These use 11/32" spline sizes exclusively. I've never known them to use anything larger.

There are handles that use a 3/8" spline, but I do not think they will work for your application. We definitely don't have anything in 3/8" that will fit an Encore style operator. Some examples are the 39-104 and 39-109B.

I really do think that the part you purchased is correct. There must be something else at play here. What exactly is the issue you're running into when you try to install it?

Home Owner from USA

Jun 30, 2021 10:44 pm

Hi Tom. Let me back up before answering your question.
Actually, all I really want to do is get the thumb/finger handle securely back on the crank (see attached, my crank is on the right; the one Swisco sent is on the left). Somehow the small thumb handle came off, and though I can slide it back on, it just comes off again. There must be a catch or something that got dislodged and lost. If you have a solution for that, then we're done!

But I was happy just buying a new crank operator. In answer to your question, the problem I'm having is that the new crank handle won't slide on to the cog. If you look IMG_0509 that I sent earlier, you'll see that the splines (right word?) on mine are recessed away from the edge of the hole and are narrower than on the Swisco handle. Moreover, if you look again at the pic I'm sending with this (IMG_0525), you'll see that my crank handle is slightly longer and of a different shape.

If we can't address my problem (the unattached thumb/finger handle) with a crank handle that will fit my cog or in some other way, then I guess I'll have to ask to return the two handles you sent me. But that is my least favorite choice.

1 user uploaded image

Tom from SWISCO

Jul 1, 2021 9:06 am

There isn't a catch or anything, but you do have to make sure that the set-screw has tightened sufficiently. That would be the tiny screw you see on the base. This is what secures the handle to the spline, so after you pop it on you need to tighten the screw so that the handle doesn't come off.

As for the splines, while the design is different between the two handles, I don't think it's enough to make that big of a difference. If the operator is Truth brand then it should work.

I'll show this thread to a few of my colleagues and see what they think. They may have come across this issue before and can offer more insight. We'll get back to you ASAP.

Dave Sr. from SWISCO

Jul 6, 2021 11:02 am

I think the issue is that your might have a somewhat older style operator. It technically has the same specs as the Truth parts but is just ever so slightly different, which is frustrating because they can be hard to catch due to how close they are in appearance. To make matters worse, this older style operator isn't even made anymore, so it's not something we can sell.

I think ultimately your best solution at this point is to buy a whole new operator. The more modern Truth parts should work, but I don't know which one to go with, exactly. If you're at all interested please show me a photo of your operator out of the window and I can make a recommendation.