Need help selecting right channel

Home Owner from San Diego California
I have 33 inch long channel (excluding end plastic pieces) by 1/2 inch wide,
Non-ribbed channel
Winged at top and bottom
bottom wings seems about 1 3/8 inches
Weight is 38.5 pounds
Marking is 32DS of 39

The way the top of the spring clips into the top seems different that your pictures for the Series 385.

My sash guides are broken too.

Need 6 sash guides and 4 sets of channel balances
3 user uploaded images
4 Replies
Bob
Bob from SWISCO
SWISCO
Expert

Hello there. I wouldn't worry about the slight differences in the spring configuration; that varies by who made the balance. This is definitely either an S380-33 or S385-33, depending on the depth of the bottom nylon shoe. See the picture below for details. If the sash weighs exactly 38.5 pounds, you can use a new stamp option of 3265, which will support a sash that weighs 35 through 39 pounds. 

For the Top Sash Guide, see our 18-171. The top 'hat' is a little taller, but you can simply snip a bit of it off to make up the difference. 

Comparison of the S378, S380 and S385 balance shoes.
Comparison of the S378, S380 and S385 balance shoes.
Home Owner from San Diego California
If I wanted to switch to a metal top sash guide. What would you recommend? All the problem windows are from these broken plastic sash guides.
Bob
Bob from SWISCO
SWISCO
Expert

There's really none I would recommend. There honestly aren't many instances where a different type of Top Sash Guide can replace the one you have. Now, Top Sash Guides do tend to break down from sunlight exposure and age. They otherwise should last a good while, but it's not so surprising that they'd all fail at once. If that's what has happened, then replacing them with the 18-171 is the best course of action. 

Reply to Thread
Current Photos:
Related Products
Related Videos
Related Guides