ok, I looked on all the posts involving aluminum windows and I haven't found what I'm looking for. I have a home built in the 60s with single hung aluminum windows. Several of the windows won't stay up without being propped up. I looked at mechanism and from what I can see its an aluminum cylinder that is attached to a small block (+/- 1 inch long) by a screw which attaches the whole mechanism to the window frame. Inside this cylinder there a spiral rod that turns on another coil within the cylinder that, as far as I can figure, acts like a track for the spiral rod. So how do I fix this?? I've taken the block and cylinder out of one window but I still can't remove the window from the track? Whats the deal? Did they really not anticipate these windows needing to be repaired or even cleaned?? Any suggestions are appreciated...but I can't afford to buy new windows.
Andrew

 

The pieces on the sides that help hold the window up are called "spiral balances". Not sure if yours would match the ones commonly available today or not... but you can surely find some parts if you Google the words "spiral balance" within quotation marks. You will also need the tool that is used to wind the balance.

The balance usually is attached with one screw through the top of the balance, and the spiral part hangs down. You wind up the spiral part of the balance with the tool until you are satisfied with the spring tension. You don't want it too tight, and you don't want it too loose. Once the tension is correct, you hook the balance to the shoe, which is probably the 1" wide part that slides up and down in the track. Sometimes there is a keeper screw that keeps the balance hooked to the shoe.

As far as getting your windows out is concerned, I'm not sure what to tell you. If they don't tip in to clean, you might need to raise the sash up and see if there are pivot pins screwed to the bottom of the sash. Removing both pivot pins might allow the window to push to one side and come out. You'll probably want a couple sticks to hold the window up while you attempt this. Windows can be like guillotines sometimes if your fingers are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

Thanks Sleeper...I looked on the bottom of the sliding window and presto! There was a small L-shaved piece (aka pivot pin???) that had a notch in it. I figure that is where the spiral rod attaches to the window. (The shoe that you talk about is actually stationary at the very top of the track that the window slides in.) When I removed the L-shaped hook from both sides, I was able to raise up the window and out it came.

I looked up Spiral balances and clicked on a site. They talk about spiral balances with different types of bearings: black, blue, red, etc (there were all for non-tilt windows) I tried to see what color the bearing the balances I have are but I can't tell-they need to be cleaned desperately. Whats the difference in the colors??

 

The color denotes the amount of weight that the balance can handle. Balances are rated according to the amount of spring tension they create, which helps to lift the weight of the sash, kind of like how the old cast iron window weights acted as a counterbalance for the windows.

White = windows up to 12 lbs.
Red = windows up to 25 lbs.
Blue = windows up to 35 lbs.

You'll want to find the right length, and be sure you order the correct diameter. I think 9/16 (5/8) or 3/8 are the common sizes.

Here's a page I found, for parts reference only:

http://www.technologylk.com/images/h...w_Balances.htm

Maybe this is the same page you were looking at.