Owens Corning Window

Home Owner from Pa.

Jun 13, 2023 3:05 pm

We had 13 double hung Owens Corning fiberglass windows, model FDH, installed in 1995. The manufacturer no longer makes them and the installer is out of business. Some of the windows have become almost impossible to raise or lower. I removed one of the most sticky ones and took some photos. See below.

The Pivot shoe is very hard to move up and down, even with the window removed so I'm guessing it's not structural problem with the wall. I didn't disconnect the spiral balance from the shoe and don't know if the problem is debris in the tube or around the shoe. I didn't see any cutouts to remove the shoe and I'm afraid to cut one or force the channel open. The tube is 24" long, 9/16" in diameter and has a red end.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Frank

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Casey from SWISCO

Jun 15, 2023 3:00 pm

EXPERT

Hello,

If the hardware in your photos came with the windows, the issue is most likely that the balances need to be replaced. You can start by taking a look at the S600-24 spiral balance with a red tip option.

If you need new pivot shoes as well, we would need to see yours uninstalled, as well as confirm the exact width and thickness. We offer the video below that will walk you through the process of making a cutout to access them.

We would also need to see your pivot bar fully removed from the window sash with written-out dimensions to compare to our replacement options. Thank you!

Home Owner from Pa.

Jun 23, 2023 2:59 pm

Hi - I purchased 2 #600-24 balancers and *75-006 charging tool. Removed the lower sash and them the left balancer, which seems to be OK and looks like a match for the ones I bought. The pivot shoe is extremely hard to slide all by itself but I don't see any way to remove it and can't tell if it's so dirty it's almost frozen. How hard should they be to slide up and down with sash and balancer removed?

Also, by chance I removed the left balancer first. The rod was rotated maybe 30° to 45° so the top attachment screw faced outside. When I went to remove the right balancer the rod was rotated in the other direction. There is no way to get a screwdriver aligned with the philips head to remove the screw. Is this normal? It looks like the upper sash, which works OK, has the same balancer mounting rotation.

The sashes are fiberglass and the track the pivot shoes ride in looks like a u-channel pushed into the frame with built-in pile weather stripping.

Thanks for the help,
Frank

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Paul from SWISCO

Jun 26, 2023 12:58 pm

EXPERT

Regarding your pivot shoe, with the sash out and balance removed, the black center cam shoe should be in a vertical position to lock it in place. With a screwdriver placed in the cam, turn the cam away from you. This should release the pivot shoe to move freely up and down the track. If not, you will need to replace it with 15-047 pivot shoe.

For the bottom sash, you will need to make a cut-out in the jamb track at the top of the window. To install the balances, attach the tube at the top of the window track. Then, bring the spiral up to the red nylon bearing of the tube. Attach the 75-006 tool to the bottom spiral hole and give the spiral about three or four clockwise turns. You should feel the balance having tension. Lastly, hook the spiral balance to the pivot shoe.