Tom from SWISCO
Apr 17, 2019 8:32 am
EXPERT
Can you send us pictures of the top and bottom fittings on the balance to confirm what you have?
7 Replies
Can you send us pictures of the top and bottom fittings on the balance to confirm what you have?
Thank you for the pictures. Based on what you sent me, I think you are better suited to order the S395 with the 2320 stamp. You were on the right track with the fitting identification, you just had the pieces reversed.
Take a look at this series balance and see if you agree. If there is anything else we can do for you, please let us know.
The main difference between those two Series is the combination of nylon fittings. The Series 350 comes with a 19-002 top and 15-004 bottom, while the Series 395 comes with a 19-005 top and 15-001 bottom.
Right away you'll note that the Series 350 has a non-winged top and a winged bottom, while the Series 395 is the opposite. The shoe for the Series 395 is also 1/32" deeper than on the Series 350.
Are these differences important? Sometimes. Can you ignore them for your window? Entirely possible. We typically recommend sticking with what you had installed originally to play it safe, but that doesn't mean you can kind of bend the rules.
For example, the wings I mention help stabilize a balance in a wider track, like yours. That way the balance doesn't wiggle side to side when you open and close the window. Can you put wings on the bottom fitting when you originally had wings on the top fitting? Sure, as long as there are no obstructions in the track that would bump into those bottom wings then it will work more or less the same way.
What about the shoe being more shallow? Will that come into play? Maybe. A 1/32" difference isn't going to be the end of the world, but as the balances are used over and over again through the years and start to wear down from friction, which is natural, you may notice that the sash is a hair wobbly. It will still function and you may not even notice, but it's something to keep in mind.
Long story short, if the Series 350 works fine then there's no reason you can't stick with it. We usually recommend sticking with the original style balance, but that's just us being safe. It's ultimately up to you.
Awesome, thank you! We appreciate your order. Please let us know how it works out or if you have any questions.
