After 2 hours of frustrating search I found your video; couldn't believe that anybody else faced the same issue AND figured out a way to fix it! THANK YOU GUYS (from Canada too)! It worked for me.
damn good for you..my Andersen casement window model doesn't have enough side opening to slip the wire between the frame and the first thread like this video. If I put the wire between first and second thread, it gets stuck. Imma replace the whole operator at this point but save the part and see if I can scrap the opening a bit so I can use it later for another window. This house has about 20 Andersen casement windows as we moved in like 5 years ago, and there is NOT a single window that operate normally.
Yes!! Thank you have had 3 of these broken for 5 years and have had to take the screens in and out because the window guys all said we had to replace them to the tune of 1500 for each window! Now they are fixed. Even if temporary, this cost me NOTHING. Thank you!!!❤
If ever needed - you can replace the hardware. The only hard part is getting the wood trim lifted, the remainder is just screwdriver work. There are videos for that. Hardware is $30-80 each window. I have replaced it on 5-6 windows because the teeth in those cops were chopped off. Now I am facing the above problem for the first time.
Thank you guys! Couldn't believe how easy it was for me to fix my window. It's good to know there are heroes without a cape somewhere. Greetings from Ontario.
I simply cannot thank you enough for this hack! I was dreading an "all-day-event" involving sharp knives, scoring, woodwork, stripped screws, rotted wood, reclaimed cranky hardware, nails, paint, locusts & pestilence and of course, the "ever-present estrogen-based knowledge-dispensing device" that I really do love, and have done so for 35 years. Literally took 4 minutes once I found a suitable hangar for use. She op-checked it and hasn't broken it yet, so I'm calling it good! Again, thanks!
YES! Really glad this could help you! Honestly, as soon as my brother and I figured out this hack on the first window crank, we thought that we just HAD to share this trick with the world... glad it was approved by your other members of the household haha! Cheers Steve!
Thanks for sharing. It started about three years ago they were breaking one by one and approx. $50.00 each for a new one on a fixed income was not affordable. I saw other videos but i didn't try them, then i came across this video and fixed 4 of them in less than 1 hr. and they work great. Thank you so much from Ontario Canada
Hello from Caledon. We have a kizzillion of these throughout the house on our Royal windows(I WOULDNEVERBUYTHEMAGAIN) our are metal and need to be repaired,,but i haven't tried any repairs on them yet. I'm hoping that it will be as simple as this,,but knowing my luck, not likely...Question; how did you figure out what needed to be done?? Thank you.
I love the details in your video. This will save me at least $50 bucks and a couple of hours replacing for a new part. With your video I only need to get one old hanger. THANK YOU GUYS! We love you!
Beauty eh, great fricking video! Won't know if this will solve my problem until spring now, but even if all I learned today was what the mechanism inaide looks like and how it works, it's still priceless information!
I love your fix! That looks like an Andersen window operator. There is another way to fix these. The main issue is the swage that holds the worm gear in gets pushed out. I fixed mine by re-swaging that worm gear back in place.
Yes! This worked. This is golden. Used on 2 windows - fixed both with the same coat hanger and both in under 20 minutes, including the time to watch this video.
Thanks guys. I had tried loctite on the pressed in shaft bushing. Worked for awhile. Thought I was going to have to spring for a new one. Found your very helpful video while searching for a reasonable price. I used a hardened Allen head bolt and locking nut, 6-32 I think or might have been an M4 from my junk drawer. 👍👍
I can’t wait to get home to try this. My window looks the same, I’m in Canada. I’ve lived in this place for over three years and can only open one of my kitchen windows because the other one won’t close!!
Thanks for the vid and I tried this out and it on this exact same crank and it works. My wire work was a little sloppy so makes it hard for the housing to stay in neat but it works. Then I realized something and had a duh moment. That plastic housing has a lip on it where the handle spindle goes through. It's that little lip that breaks that allows the spindle to worm its way out. I was about to replace the whole assembly and then realized I ONLY have to replace the little plastic cover. THAT will keep it in place and only costs $7 on Amazon and just easily snaps in place. The problem for this specific brand is that tiny little plastic lip breaks. Replace it in under a min with the $7 snap on replacement.
I have been trying to figure out that damn problem for longer than I choose to admit. I’m pretty handy but gave up a while ago. All I have to say is you guys are fucking brilliant! Genius! Thank you so very much!
It works! I For anyone having problems with the fit, I had to open my window most of the way to get the coat hanger into the groove. I only used pliers to bend the coat hanger back and forth until it broke, and used pliers to slide the piece of coat hanger in. I have truth casement windows, I think from the 80's but not entirely sure. Thanks for the video! EDIT: I also have anderson casement windows, this fix will not work for those.
Thank you so much, this is exactly what I needed to watch. The screws for mine is on the outside of the on the window of the mechanism. (And I could not drill or unscrew the back to get to the hole, to put the clotheswire through) There are five screws, the one in the middle is kind of blocking the round turn flat thing with the groove; that make the window open and close. Plus there are two tiny little screws on the other side so you're not going to get all of that. I'm done unless you take the whole window part. So after removing the window screen. 1. I just loosened 4 screws (maybe it wasn't necessary). I noticed that if I turn, with my right hand.... the handle to the right. 2. Then pull with my left hand forward...... just do that in increments. About four times, that made the window come back in. 3. Then you can get something like a curved, thin handle or string to pull it close....that last half an inch. Then lock it in place. To God be The Glory. I prayed for a video. This help me see what's need for my window.
This trick worked well on a 25 year old casement window with a Truth dual arm operator. Use only about 1-1/2 inches of wire, then bend the excess to the back instead of around the casting. This allows the original plastic cover to fit after the repair.
Brilliant! Thanks a ton guys! It was a little hard to get the wire through but it worked great. Way better than drilling a hole and set screw. Thanks so much for sharing.
I love videos like this. It helps train people to think outside the box and find things that will work in a pinch. I found this video while searching for a solution to my RV window crank problem. I can't find one that shows the crank I am in need of fixing so I will need to make a video showing my solution, once I figure it out. God bless RU-vid.
Great idea. Very observant. My client has a whole house full of older Anderson windows that are doing this. NONE of the thermal barriers are broken on the sashes so it would be a shame to replace them just because of the openers. I was going to investigate replacing just the crank mechanism but this saves her even more dough. Good eye, gentlemen. This is the kind of stuff I do all the time but you two beat me to it! I'm going to subscribe as you seem to be as clever and humble as me! Keep up the good work. Anderson could have used you two when they designed the cranks in the first place!
Thank you for such an awesome and helpful video. I appreciate your easy fixing technique. It really works. Now I can close and open my window. Thank you again🤗
It’s a long term temporary fix, and I applaud your ingenuity. However, it’s pretty simple to replace the operator assembly. But your life hack costs only time. ❤
Thx! Worked well (with two pieces of coat hanger for ours) for one of the old Truth Entry Guard window operators (circa 1980) we have which opened but did not close, like yours. The others we have which resist both opening and closing I think we’ll need to replace; hopefully just the crank operators, not the whole windows.
This is great, what it is, there is normally a plastic bushing between there to keep it from moving in and out, they ware out over time from dirt and grime.. This is the same way I fix them. The one you fixed are older ones.. The other you looked is newer version. Those are casted, open the window all the way and you can removed it from the outside.
Love these tricks! Saves us from hiring someone for every small fix. I need help putting the window track leg back on its track. The part that slides to the window opens out and comes back in fell off the track. Any advice?
Thank you for the quick and easy fix! I wish I seen it sooner as last time I replaed the dual arm assembly and it didn't quite align properly with the window and now pops off the window halfway through opening or closing :( This fix works great.
My crank failed last night. J hardly got any sleep, wondering if the window was still secure. I’m relieved that it only has to do with crank issue. Will give this a try. Thank you!!! 😃
I ordered a discontinued replacement Dyod Operator from Swisco. They have really good installation videos showing part numbers and suggesting minor parts to replace as well.
Good informative video: My broken crank handle is Ventarama, long out of business, with a similar problem. The crank handle opens a skylight. I'm unable to find the 'hole' but, in my case, the space on the shaft contains very thin spring/clamp washers, which I think have worn to uselessness. I plan to refill the space with several washers that I hope will stop the threaded shaft from spinning. The skylight is about fifty years old.
Nice seluthing on that fix! unfortunately, this won't work on the condo windows at my cousin's condo. They opted for repacing the old windows, mostly because the wood frames were warped and the windows were jammed shut. Thank you for your time making this! 1
A cotter pin would be an easier install than the clothes hanger wire. But thanks for the idea. UPDATE: I have a slightly different style of crank housing. I can't drill a hole thru both sides of the housing. I drilled a 7/64" (2.7mm) hole on one side of the housing. I hammered in the aluminum stud from a 3/16" pop rivet into the hole to pin the crank screw to the housing. The aluminum stud is malleable enough to be hammered thru the slightly smaller diameter hole and flatten against the shaft of the crank. I trimmed the stud to about 1/16" proud of the surface then flattened it with the hammer. Nail sett can also be used to further flatten the stud. Basically, the fix is a diy rivet. YRMV.
Thanks, this video helped me so much, I have the same type of crank mechanism and it was an easy fix for sure, it was my day off from work so much better, thanks!
I have a window screw that has done this. I wonder if there was a cotter pin or something in the original assembly that has disintegrated. It seems that might be the case. While I suppose I could replace the crank mechanism with one from a window that we rarely use, why not fix what you have. Thanks for this. And I think this is something I can do!! I also find these crank windows do not close very well. They don't fit tightly so they can be locked shut. That is probably due to the swelling and the window gaskets not fitting well. I end up pushing the window fully closed from the outside in the fall when I am closing them for the winter.
57 thousand views ? Unreal. Can there be that many cranks that have failed? I'm going to try it myself. I am surprised to find the video but thanks in advance
Do you (or anyone out there) know if the operator shaft (that you're securing into the assembly) can be purchased separately anywhere? Mine's snapped off... below the first collar.
This is cool, although I was search for something different. For my condo window, the part that connects the outside arm and the window broke! Cannot fix it outside as it's a high rise building, haven't found a solution yet unfortunately.
Need to find a video of how to get my crank out window back in the track. Several have slipped off and i cant figure out how to gwt them back on. 40 yo wood crank out windows.
Hi! I have a weird issue - the arm thing that pushes out the window keeps detaching from under the wood and doesn't pull it in. What can I do to fix this? Thank you!
