Simonton coil balance

Home Owner from Reading, PA

Oct 24, 2020 4:40 pm

We have Simonton single hung vinyl windows. Size 35.5 x 59.5 (see photos). Date stamp on the window shows August, 1994. They use a coil balance system, which I didn't know much about until today. At least half the windows have broken coils.

Can you advise on a replacement part number for the coil balance?
Do they come as a set (pivot shoe, coil, plastic support bracket), or can the components be purchased separately?

Most of our support brackets and pivot shoes seem to be in good shape, but I plan on replacing all the coil balances.

Thank you!

2 user uploaded images

6 Replies

Tom from SWISCO

Oct 29, 2020 10:59 am

Thank you for your patience during this busy season. We can help you with your balances, but those stickers don't tell me anything. I will need you to remove a complete balance assembly from the window and show me a clear picture of it without obstruction. I especially need to see the pivot shoe. While it's out, please also tell me the thickness of the spring and the number printed on it. Thanks!

Home Owner from Reading, PA

Nov 5, 2020 8:58 am

Thank you for the follow up. I realized that we had several different size windows, so I tried to get a coil assembly out of each size to get a sense of what we had.

- Double coil on each side of the window sash.
- Coils measure 5/16" across and are about 0.015 - 0.017" thick.
- Not totally sure on material, but they're silver in color, show some very light rust and a magnet will pull them with a decent amount of force.

As for the numbers written on them, that was a challenge. They are filthy, and when I tried to wipe the dirt off, the printed numbers came off with it.

Here's the best I can tell:
- Every coil I could see had 33" on it. (I assume that's a maximum or minimum length.
- Coils from our larger windows (36" x 60") had 5.5# (I assume that's the weight)
- Coils from our smaller windows (36" x 48") had 4.5#.

Again, it was very difficult to see, but I swear one of the coils had 3.5# paired with a 5.5# on the same assembly. Is it common to have different weight coils paired with each on the same side of the same sash?

Thank you again for the assistance!

3 user uploaded images

Tom from SWISCO

Nov 5, 2020 10:41 am

Thank you! Your pivot shoe looks like our 15-111, which itself is designed to be used with our Series 160 coil spring. You can see on that store page that the Series 160 has each of the stamps you mentioned; 5.5, 4.5, and 3.5. I think this may be just what you're looking for.

As long as both sides are symmetrical, then it's normal for a side to have two different stamps. In your example, a single assembly that has a 3.5 and 5.5 spring carries 9 pounds, which adds up with the other, identical side to 18 pounds. Installers do that sometimes when the sash weight is a bit awkward, which 18 pounds would be in this case.

If the two sides of the same window are different, though, then that's another matter. One window really should have symmetrical operation.

Home Owner from Reading, PA

Nov 5, 2020 11:07 am

All of that makes a lot of sense. I'll make sure each window has symmetrical weight on it.

I'll be placing my order shortly.

Thanks so much for the help!

Tom from SWISCO

Nov 5, 2020 12:17 pm

You're very welcome. We appreciate the order. If you had any other questions, feel free to ask!