I have those vertical windows that crank open and shut. (Casement windows?) anway, they are old, and many of them crank to within about a quarter inch of reaching the locking mechanism, then won’t crank any further.
The wood isn’t sticking; if I go outside and push on them they close easily and then I can lock them. It’s just that the crank seems to have slipped it’s adjustment.
Is this an easy fix? Anybody know where I can find a diagram or instructions?
The house is rented and the landlord beyond useles, so finding the manual/manufacturer is not an option here.
Thanks for any ideas!
And of course, I immediately (after several searches) found a good diagram: http://www.parts-aw.com/Merchant2/graphics/Casement/1361562.jpg still don’t see how to re-adjust it though. Any help?
If they’re old, you may have worn gears in the mechanism and won’t be able to get that last little bit from the crank. An adjustment might be possible…but maybe you want a little something like a screw or a loop or a pin to grab and pull the window closed while locking it.
Or you can replace the cranking mechanism.
I’ve encountered this problem before too, my solution was basically what andyleonard proposed. I used a small eyehook screwed to the window near the latching mechanism, and ran fishing line from the hook through the screen, with a small washer at the end of the line for a handle. When the window was shut I hung the washer on a tack at the top of the window jam, which kept the slack fishing line out of the way. It wasn’t perfect but it worked ok.
Finances forced my to move into my dad’s last year. My brother’s old room has these windows and he had utilized the ‘hook & line’ method for one that was completely stripped. This however required constantly removing & replacing the screen and I quickly grew sick of that (plus I didn’t want my cat to escape). I found at Home Depot a repair kit for this type of mechanism. I think it was less than $15. You have to pry off the wood piece labeled **STOP **in your picture, remove & replace the crank mechanism, and tap the wooden STOP piece back on (just small finishing nails). I can barely hammer a nail straight and I found it pretty easy.
Home Depot page of parts listing…
