Spiral balance with a yellow tip

A home owner from Raleigh, NC says:
April 25, 2011
It looks like I need the 900 Series replacement balances. However the color of the tip on the current balances is yellow which is not one of your choices. These are aluminum tilt windows with 26-193/4 type tilt latches and the 15-045 pivot shoes. The original balances have wound steel as the sleeve (under the vinyl cover). Also, one set of balances measures 33.5" which is not an option on your website. Should I go with the 33" or 34"? There are two holes in the mounting plate that are 1.5" apart. The 33.5" balances are currently mounted in the lower hole. I guess an option would be to drill a new hole in the sash aligned with the upper hole and use a 25" (23.5" + 1.5") balance???
Thanks.
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Paul from SWISCO responded:
April 25, 2011
Good Afternoon,

Check the diameter again. You should measure the total diameter of the balance (including the vinyl casing). Our replacement balances have a metal casing versus the cheaper balances with the vinyl casing. You probably will find the diameter to be 9/16" which would be our S600 balance.

When you measure the length, measure just the vinyl casing (do not include the internal spiral or the colored tip).

The tip color represents the strength of the balance. Yellow is not common. To be sure what color you will need, I will need the weight of the window sash. Remove the window sash from the window and weigh it on a scale (a bathroom scale would work). Respond here with the weight.
A home owner from Raleigh, NC says:
April 27, 2011
Paul, here's the answers to your questions:

- diameter is 3/8 including vinyl casing
- when measuring just the vinyl casing I get the following lengths for my windows balances:
* 28 1/2" (so do I go with the 29" balances?)
* 34"
- tips are definitely yellow plastic not just faded white.
- the weight of the sash is 19lbs
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Paul from SWISCO responded:
April 28, 2011
Yes, for your 28 1/2" spiral balance you may use the S900-29 Spiral Balance with the red tip option, supporting a sash weight of 10 to 22 lbs. For the 34" spiral balance, you may use the S900-34 Spiral Balance, which only has the red tip option due to its length.
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