block and tackel balast

Contractor from Topsham Maine

Jul 4, 2024 12:45 pm

Hello, I have a broken balast and would like to get it replaced. it has a black plastic top that screws to the window jamb, below that is a spring that is attached to the black top piece and has a metal tube through its length, spring is 13.5", the bottom of the spring attaches to another plastic piece that rides on the same metal rod as the spring, it has blocks that a string is placed on the blocks and then attaches to the shoe. overall length of the whole balast installed in the jamb is 27 7/8".

I would love to have been able to send a photo, however, this page does not allow photo's to be added.
I currently have a 15-129 pivot shoe set in the cart and would like to replace both sides of the window balast. any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks and have a great day! James

8 Replies

Jasmine from SWISCO

Jul 5, 2024 11:49 am

Hi James,

To confirm that the 15-129 is the best replacement for your balance assembly, I'll need to see the photos of your existing hardware. Unfortunately, I cannot do that based on the description you've provided.

When you attempted to upload the photos to this thread did you have any issues? If so, what were they?

Contractor from Topsham Maine

Jul 6, 2024 9:52 am

Hi, from the web page, when I selected the "add photo" nothing happened. I changed to a pc, another android and my iPhone, all three had the same result..
Anyway here is a pic of the broken/removed and a good/installed.
The pivot shoe that I put in the cart is the correct one for this window.

4 user uploaded images

Jasmine from SWISCO

Jul 8, 2024 10:04 am

Thanks for confirming the issues and for providing the photos. It appears your balances are an older, discontinued Arrow Balance. The good news is that they can likely be replaced with our Series 770 Balance.

I'm happy to to provide you with a replacement recommendation for the one you need but you'll need an undamaged balance to get an accurate length for the replacement. You'll need to measure from the top of the black nylon tip to the bottom of the natural nylon tip. If you are unable to confirm the length of an undamaged balance, I'll need to know the measurement for the height of the visible glass, only the glass you are able to see.

I will also need to know the exact weight of the sash to determine the amount of weight the replacement balances would need to support.

In the meantime, your shoe does look like it could be the 15-129 but you'll need to compare the dimensions to confirm. Since it is still installed in the window, the view of the shoe is blocked, so it is hard to confirm, with certainty.