Need Help Identifying Parts

Home Owner from Hagerstown, MD
Nov 5, 2020 12:08 pm
I need to replace 18 spiral spring balances and pivot shoes. The windows are 30+ years old but I've had the local "Window Doctor" take a look at them and he says they are in great shape, no seals are busted, tilt works fine, etc. Except, opening and closing them is difficult at best due to the worn balances. The current ones are 23 1/2" long (tube only) and have a blue tip. The difficulty that I am having is measuring the diameter. Some of these have a plastic tube covering the spring balance. Many of these plastic coverings have cracked and crumbled. The plastic tube measures 1/2" so I believe the metal spring balance tube is 3/8". I also need help correctly identifying the correct pivot shoe. I have a few pictures that I can send to you if necessary. Thanks for your help. Charlie
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5 Replies
Bob
Bob from SWISCO
Nov 9, 2020 11:17 am
SWISCO
EXPERT

Hey Charlie. I understand; these old spiral balances with plastic outer tubes can be tough to measure correctly. If the outer tube's diameter is greater than 3/8" however, that's the one to go by, and therefore I'm confident you need the 5/8" Series 600 Spiral Balances--the fact your balance has a Blue Tip is also indicative this is the Series you need, since only the Series 600 uses that color. 

Now, as far as the length goes, we advise rounding up with spiral balances that have a length ended in an X-1/2" increment. Therefore, you'd need our S600-24. Let me know if you have further questions. 

Home Owner from Hagerstown, MD
Nov 16, 2020 7:51 pm
Hey Bob, the outer tube is a plastic cover (most of them cracked and crumbled) that encases the metal spring balance tube. That's why I feel that I need the 3/8" (it fits inside the 1/2" plastic tube/cover). Also need help with identifying the proper shoe. Might be easier to discuss on the phone. Thanks. Charlie
Bob
Bob from SWISCO
Nov 17, 2020 3:56 pm
SWISCO
EXPERT

Hey Charlie. The plastic tube is the equivalent to the outer metal tube on our spiral balances, and it's the outer tube diameter that matters. So if that outer tube definitely has a greater diameter than 3/8", then you need the 5/8" Series 600, there's really no other option. Again, the fact your balance has a blue tip further corroborates that, since blue tips aren't used with Series 900 balances. Let me know if you have further questions. 

Home Owner from Hagerstown, MD
Nov 19, 2020 4:19 pm
Hey Bob, can I get a phone number so that we can discuss on the phone. Still need the shoe info. Thanks. Charlie
Bob
Bob from SWISCO
Nov 20, 2020 2:02 pm
SWISCO
EXPERT

Unfortunately I don't have a phone line from which to talk to customers. However, identifying the pivot shoe shouldn't prove too difficult. You will need to remove it from the window, send a picture, and give us its width and thickness. Those exact dimensions should point us to what you need. 

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