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Replacing spiral balances and pivot shoes

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Home Owner from Hilliard, OH
Jul 19, 2025 12:13 pm

Hi! 

I have a tilt window that had one of the spiral balance snap near the pivot shoe due to heavy corrosion. I included some close up pictures of that pivot shoe, the other shoe with the other balance still attached, and also the broken spiral balance housing after removal. 

I'll be replacing both balances, and shoes (and possibly the pivot bars).

Balance dimension: 34" housing tube length. Diameter ~7/16 (don't have calipers unfortunately). The tip appears black to my eyes, these are largish 30"x35" windows. When installed, the acual balance housing was enclosed in a longer, thin white tube that had 1/2" diameter, the white tube and balance attached via grommets in the clearance holes. You can see in my photo of the deformed top end of the balance that whoever installed clamped them together too for a better fit. 

I have no good info on the pivot shoes as I am having trouble removing the sash from them. I have seen your videos where you twist it out. Likely I am just fighting rust, and the absence of one the balances might not help either. Any advice here appreciated. I did spray some PB Blaster in both cams, hopefully that will help.

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6 Replies
Tom
Tom from SWISCO
Jul 24, 2025 1:08 pm
SWISCO
Expert

Thanks for reaching out to us. Since this is a typical tilt window you have either the 3/8" diameter Series 900 or the 9/16" diameter Series 600. You need to measure the outer tube to determine the proper size, not the spring itself. 3/8" and 9/16" are the only two options, so it'll definitely be one or the other.

The best pivot shoe replacement will also depend on size. You will need to remove it to get an accurate measurement of the width and thickness. To remove the sash on this kind of window, you need to give it a little twist to free the pivot bars from the cams. Basically, one pivot shoe needs to be higher than the other so that the sash is removed at a bit of an angle. Twisting it while you tilt it will allow that.

Home Owner from Hilliard, OH
Aug 3, 2025 8:11 pm

Hi Tom,

Thanks for your response! I have all the hardware removed and made measurements with calipers. I need to replace everything: balances, pivot shoes, pivot bars.

Spiral Balances:

- exact outer spiral balace tube  diameter = 0.452" about 7/16" (this is the part of the spiral balance just below the mouting clearance hole attached in post above).

- important note: my spiral balances are housed in another hollow white tube, pictures attached in this post (one shows it installed with the balances, the other shows how its is grommeted together with the balance). The diameter of this white tube is 0.54"., very close to 9/16". All of my windows have this outer white tube. My guess is that this is some sizing adapter (perhaps my spiral balances were under sized?). Or perhaps these parts were simply sold that way.

- 34” length (outer tube length, including clearance hole at top)

- tip color = black (weighed the sash and it is 20 lbs)

Pivot Shoes:

- pictures attached. height = 2", Width = 1.27", thickness = 0.533"

Pivot bars:

- 3" length, 0.32" wide, 0.175" thickness

- clearance hole is two inches from front end that sticks out of sash (I'll be needing replacement screws as well).

 
5 user uploaded images
Tom
Tom from SWISCO
Aug 4, 2025 9:45 am
SWISCO
Expert

Thanks for getting back to us. The outer white tube is precisely what you want to measure. If yours is 9/16" then that would be the Series 600. As mentioned above, there are only two sizes: 3/8" and 9/16". See our S600-34.

Regarding the pivot shoe, see our 15-015. This is 17/32" thick, which is awfully close to your size. I think this is going to be a winner. For the compatible pivot bar, I recommend the 26-040. Just make sure to check the hole position relative to the front tip, which for the 26-040 is 2" (measuring from the center of the hole). Otherwise this should work well.

Home Owner from Hilliard, OH
Aug 16, 2025 9:38 am
This did all work out thanks!
That being said, as a warning to others, it was a mistake for me not to trust the color on the old balance tips. I weighed my sash and it was 20 lbs, so it seems like the black tipped ones would be too strong since the weight chart recommends 30 lbs + for black. So I bought the red. Well, I had to turn the red ones I bought like 10 times to get enough tension, even then I can only open the window a little past 3/4 of the way open (which is good enough). I'd be afraid to turn the balances any more than I did.
Will I be okay with somewhat overtensioned rods? They might just wear faster, right?
Tom
Tom from SWISCO
Aug 18, 2025 10:03 am
SWISCO
Expert

If your balances can hold the window sash then you will be okay for now, but just be careful over-tensioning them in the future. These rods are held to the tube using a band that can snap if turned too many times so you don't want to wind them too much.

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