Failed Balancer and other parts

Hey there, Michael. I'll do my best to help you. From the size of the window you gave, I estimate the sash weight to be 55 pounds. That's why the Stanek Company used two balances on each side of the sash. 

The pivot shoe I see in your track is a match for our 15-216. The 28" tilt balance will be our S795-28, but we need to alter it in the warehouse to use a 15-224 inverted link attached to the bottom instead of the default T shaped shoe. That way it will clip into the 15-216 shoe that you have. Please note that the top cord will also have a screw on clip at the end. The spring weight will be also be 28D.

Does that sound good to you? If so, let me know exactly how many balances you need and we can get started on the custom ordering process. 

Now let's talk about removing the old hardware. You will need to tilt in and remove the sash; because of the weight, you will need two people. Then you would place a screw driver in the metal center cam, turn it towards you to release the pivot shoe, and bring it up to the balances. Be very careful! There will be a high amount of tension on the spring when you release the pivot shoe and if you don't keep a firm grip on it then it will shoot back into the window. Make sure to wear goggles and safety gloves just in case. 

With the pivot shoe up to the balance, unscrew one balance at a time and disconnect them from the shoe. Reverse the procedure to install the new balances. 

Regarding the broken screws that hold your pivot bars, being these are heavy duty vinyl windows for hurricanes, there should be a steel bar inside the sash rail. If the screws can be removed from the sash, you can drill a hole in the pivot bar and sash. Use a stainless screw of similar length and thread. You can get them at any local hardware store.

Once I have your confirmation on the custom balances I outlined and a quantity, we can get the ball rolling on that.

Hi, Mike. I'm sorry to hear that you had so much trouble with it. We don't have any technical drawings on how this hardware interacts, unfortunately, but I'll do my best to explain.

First, you start with the "base" balance. This is the metal channel that contains the spring and block and tackle system. This is what does all the heavy lifting and keeps your window up when raised.

The metal channel installs at the top of the side jamb track using either a screw or hook, as the case may be. In your case, this screw/hook is at the end of a cord that extends and retracts from the top of the metal channel. As you open and close the window, the metal channel itself physically slides up and down with it. The cord sort of "yo-yo's" it.

Then, all the way down at the bottom, you have the inverted link. This snaps into the bottom of the metal channel and allows it to connect to the pivot shoe, which allows the window to tilt in and also cradles the sash. You mentioned that you have a metal corner mount that fits into the pivot shoe, but I don't know what you meant by that. I'm looking at your photos and the bottom of your metal channel clearly uses an inverted link. Did you have something different used by another balance that I don't see in your photos?

As for using more robust parts, like, say, metal, I'm afraid that isn't possible. Most window manufacturers pretty much make a this kind of hardware one way and it's usually going to be plastic. They do this to save on manufacturing costs. As far as I know, the inverted link and pivot shoe we sell are only made this way. No stronger versions exist to my knowledge, and I don't know of a company who'd be willing to make metal alternatives.

But that should be okay. After all, your current hardware has been working well all this time, and likely has been for years before they started failing. As long as the balance springs are functional, then the weight of the sash is properly compensated for and there is no undue strain on the plastic parts. It's only when the springs start to fail, from age or some other issue, that the plastic parts begin to suffer the direct weight of the sash and break. Metal parts wouldn't really be much of a benefit here since the balance would need to be replaced anyway. It's not like they'd give it extra years of life. When the spring fails, the spring fails.

Hopefully that clarifies how this hardware works. I would understand if you weren't interested in trying our hardware out, but I have no reason to think our parts won't work for you. If you wanted to pursue an order, you know where to find us.

Don't worry, you're not a blockhead. You have a very, very specific and uncommon balance system. There's a reason why this has to be custom made, trust me. They just don't make windows this heavy that often, so this is a special case and we have to take special care with it. These are all good questions.

The video below will hopefully clarify how we install the 15-224 inverted link to the S795-28 balance. The shoe shown in this video is obviously different, but the principle is the same.

The 15-216 pivot shoe has enough space for two balances to plug into it on either side, one at a time. This isn't exactly the easiest thing to do with limited space, I won't lie to you, but it is possible.

And that really is the biggest issue I think you'll face when trying to put these balances in: trying to maneuver them in place one at a time when you don't have a lot of room to do so. One thing I should have mentioned at the onset of this is that there is a chance the installers put your balances into the jamb liner first, then installed the jamb liner into the window. That's a bit like cheating, but it's a luxury you can afford when you're installing the window fresh.

It is not, unfortunately, a luxury you will be able to enjoy. You will have to try your best to squeeze these balances in the window track as best as you can.

I will email you an order link and price quote right now for 4 balances according to these specifications. This will be an S795-28 with a 28D stamp option, as well as a 15-224 inverted link attached to the bottom. This balance also uses a screw to install to the window track at the top. Please tell me if yours does not use a screw.

No charging tool is necessary for channel balances. These come pre-tensioned and it is not advisable that customers attempt to tension the spring under any circumstances. You don't want it to accidentally disconnect and fly out, it could take an eye out.

Thanks, Mike! I wish you luck, and we're always here to help as best as we can. 

We're holding up okay, just hoping this all ends soon. Thank you for asking, and we also hope you're doing well.