I have Pella Casements, 1979 with insulated glass. The operator is a double arm with the other end connected to fixed spot on the sash. And the “hinge” side slides in tracks at the top and bottom of the window so that as one edge of the sash moves out the other edge side towards the center of the window.
I was working on a condo built in 87 that had Pella windows, but they where the removable inner pain where you could put between the glass shades, but they did not have any.
Noticed one window that was not closed all the way. The other have of the double window and a couple of others that I looked at worked like mine.
But this one was hinged on the one edge just like an “old fashion” casement window. The operator had a single arm with a shoe that slide in a track mounted on the sash. The shoe was not in the track binding the window so that it would not close all the way.
To get the shoe in the track I had to remove the track, slide it over the shoe, and then re-attach the track.
1) has anybody every seen that kind of operator on a Pella?
2) Why in the hell would someone install a system like that and then not slide shoe into the track? The way that it is shape I don’t see how it could have ever popped out and had to be screwed up from day one.
Replies
Bill, If I understand you correctly........the pivots are outside on the surface, top and bottom of sash/frame. The sliding arm goes into the track and pushes or pulls the sash open/closed. There is a small flare in the bottom of the track, that lets you depress the arm and either insert it into the track or remove it from the track (near the middle). Must have come undone. Make sure the arm is not bent and is lubricated and it should operate correctly. If you need replacement parts, you will need the yr of the sash (located as a number in the glass dividing strip if not replaced. The other way is knowing the yr of install. Sounds like since it's diff, it may have been a salvaged window from a previous time. You might need to take the arm to a distributor to match it up.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
I was expecting a notch on the bottom of the track to fit the arm connection in. But it did not have one.I don't think that the hinges where on the outside. But that makes me wonder how it was hinged. I did see see somekind of fitting at the bottom corner. Might be somekind of knife hinge.I don't need any parts, it works after I fixed it. Just wondering what was going on."Sounds like since it's diff, it may have been a salvaged window from a previous time."Well it was not a salvaged window as it was one 1/2 of a dual set.But I wonder if the operator broke and some one salvaged that off of a different brand.
You might be on the right track on someone fiddling with parts on that window, especially since its a half of a combo unit. You know the havoc someone can wreak on things when they go to the store and say to themselves.........."that'll work". A real shame when the required parts are still available with a little search.
I'm currently on a hunt for information as I gut portions of a house I'm working on. It always intrigues me the story behind the things they do to the houses I get to work on. This menagerie started in 1855.............Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time