Window troubles

Question

My Client's late 1700's home has very old wood windows (pre 1900) They love the look of these windows & don't want to replace them. Just make them operational... They already cut the cords & removed all the associated hardware for the lead balancers thinking this would solve all their problems... The sash tracks are very loose. I am looking for a replacement guide track system I saw at a home improvement trade show many years ago. Do you have anything that would serve this purpose? If not, could you recommend a product that would work here? Thanks for your assistance

Tom · Accepted Answer

Being that these are old wood windows, I suggest our Series 500 5/8" non-tilt balances with 17-012 balance brackets. These were used by early wood window manufacturers in the previous century. The brackets hook onto the balance spiral.

To install these balances, you would drop them in from the top, on the side of the sash. Use a 33-017 screw to attach the balance tubes at the top. Now, raise the sash, and have someone hold it up while you attach the 17-012 bottom bracket with a 33-090 screw, while the U-shape opening corrals the spiral.

With your finger, bring up the spiral to the bracket and attach the 75-005 tool, turning the spiral clockwise three turns and hooking it to the fork of the bracket. Repeat this process on the other side, and try the sash. If sash creeps down, raise and hold up the sash, giving the balances another turn or two.

Finally, to figure out the balance tube lengths, get the height of the glass and add 1" for the top sash and 3" for the bottom sash.