I am a home owner who has just bought a house with single hung tilt windows installed approximately 1999. These windows appear to be a builder grade and I cannot find any tag or marking showing who the maker is. I am having a hard time finding parts after perusing various sites on the internet. In particular some of the "shoes" are broken and I need at least one other plastic part that I will describe and show in a photo. The windows have a mechanism that uses a spring to help lift the windows. This is not a coil mechanism or a balance (no pulleys), but rather a simple spring that is attached to window vertically and within the frame by a fixed cord that is screwed into the top vertical inside corner of the frame. This cord is then attached to a plastic connector about halfway down the inside of frame with the string end wound around the plastic connector. The connector is then used to connect the string to the top of the spring. The bottom of the spring is then attached to a shoe (pictures attached). Please note that the shoe is made with a protrusion which is used to latch onto the spring. The spring end has a final loop of the spring bent to be at a 90% angle to the other spring coils and serves to attach onto a side of the shoe. I also need some plastic pieces that connects the spring to the string. I have attached photos. Has anyone seem similar window mechanisms and offer any clues as to the maker of the window. Does anyone have any ideas on where I might find those replacement parts? Thank you very much for your help

John Dorman

 

Hi, I think I may have found my answer already myself. I am guessing after much research my windows were made be Patriot and are the low level series (1100/1200). There have been many problems with the window balances and I found that Swisco offers replacement parts. The parts are their Series 850 crossbow block and tackle Balance system. I see enough problems with these parts in Patriot vinyl windows that I am half tempted to try and put a more sophisticated balance system in that would stand the test of time. Almost every one in my 14 year old house is broken. But the Swisco staff has told others in the same predicament they should replace parts with like replacements... If anyone has any good experience swapping out such block and tackle balances with other better alternatives in vinyl windows, please let me know. The cost of putting in the replacement hardware (including new left and right thumb latches) is about $30 per window.

 

It's very unlikely you'll be able to change hardware (tape balances for block and tackle for instance)..they just won't fit.

SWISCO is a good company, they know their stuff. Did they recommend AAAScreen as a source to order from? Pretty sure SWISCO doesn't sell direct. You might be able to negotiate a bulk discount from AAA.

No easy answer unless Patriot is still in business and offers a lifetime hardware warranty like some companies.