Help w colored tips

A quick learner from Ft worth tx says:

I need help selecting tip colors for two (tilting) window applications. All are 900 series spiral balance but stock balance have no color tips.

1) 29 in Long, 3/8 inch tube, for a 25.5 lb sash.

2) 23 in long tube, 3/8 in diameter, for a 16 lb sash.

Also, approximately how free should the pivot shoe ride in the aluminum rail. Mine require about 3-5 lbs of effort to slide up or down, and wanted to know if this is normal, or do the need replacing, cleaning, or lubrication, or nothing at all?

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Tom from SWISCO responded:

Hello! We have a chart on each balance store page that tells you how much weight each option can support. For the S900-29, a green tip will carry 14 through 26 pounds. For the S900-23, a green tip will also carry 14 through 26 pounds.

I'm not sure that I understand your second question. A pivot shoe should be tight enough to be stable, but loose enough to slide freely in the track. When you're moving them up and down the track, make sure they aren't in the locked position; if you're moving them while they're locked, you may accidentally cause damage to the track.

A quick learner from Ft worth tx says:
I looked at your tables and there is an overlap between tip colors. Meaning a 25.5lb sash could use a green OR yellow tip. So I will lean toward the lighter range.
Thanks,
John
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How to replace a tilt window spiral balance.
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