Helpful to see just how it came apart and works, and the 20mm/22mm conundrum! It may not be an exciting topic, but informative and concisely edited, love it, thank you!
Thanks for watching Roy. I guess lots our our windows don't get opened much but this particular kitchen window must have had plenty of use as the mechanism just disintegrated. ATB b33zo
Ive just bought a house and two of the windows have the smae problem, but stuck open so i cant close/lock them. Just had a quote for £140 EACH to fix. Think you may have just saved me a small fortune!
Thank you but mine although a side bolt system didn't have those brass looking capstan, I later discovered the whole mechanism was a covered job which protruded the bolts at the sides! I actually managed to free the stuck bolt on one side by simply inserting a thick knitting needle into the handle shank hole in the middle at an obtuse angle to connect with the mechanism below and this opened the stuck bolt!! Of course, after all that the seems to be working fine again although the frames show a little of my frustrated attempts previous to your video and my investigations 😬😂 hope this is a clear explanation of my method
Brilliant video thankyou .. Im about to replace my window looking mechanism and this helped out alot .. although my window is brand new on a new build property it broke after a few months due to new build houses using really cheap parts
Thanks for watching Stephen. Ask for Duncan at Nico if that's the brand you're replacing or contact Miranda for mechanisms. Good luck with your repair. b33zo
Absolutely fantastic video thank you so much, about to give it a go , exactly the same as your problem, and the information on sizes for new part crucial, thanks once again.
My son tried to close the window without placing the handle in the correct position and now the mechanism on the underside is blocked. The handle is blocked and the window is not closing? :(
Very interesting video. I've got a problem with an upstairs window in my house. The handle turns, but the cams don't move up or down, and so I can't catch (securely close) the window. I would imagine the gubbins has gone much like yours did.
@YelpBullhorn thanks for watching. Yes the innards of the mechanism seem to give way eventually. It's an easy enough (warm weather) task to replace the kit as you see on my video. Good luck with the job. b33zo
I'm out of ideas with two of mine (after working on others), using an old coat hanger might just work (I thought such might be too malleable, when I pondered the idea, but clearly you made it work👍💜), it would be easyish to work a shape from two of the windows that open. 🤞🤞✌️✌️👍😊💜
@@b33zo Hi, Sorry, I didn't get an alert for your reply☹️ I've not fixed the windows yet and another has just failed, first floor bathroom (a real chore). Frankly I can't keep up with modern equipment failing in our house, mostly out of warranty, planned obsolescence or made in China by the CCP - all race to the bottom shareholder capitalism type stuff with no care for the customer 🙄😕 The most longevity we've had from a constant use window is about ten years, maybe a tad more, often a lot less. I need to find a decent brand of mechanism that will last. The Bathroom one I've left partially open, the other two have failed shut (almost certainly it's a failed gearbox or the castings therein). Old fashioned windows were almost trouble free🙄😊✌️👍
As you closed the window at the end it sounded like the cams were hitting the keeps? Maybe you hadn't opened the handle fully, who knows? But if the handle was opened fully and it hits even one of those keeps then you need to drop the keep down a couple of mm's and re screw. But if the window has dropped (this one seemed ok) then deglaze, square up the deglazed opening on Packers in its subframe, if its tight to lift over Packers just push up top of opener with one hand while pulling onto bottom packers at same time, handle side only needs packing not hinge side, close handle then mark top and bottom with pencil, open handle to check pencil marks and pack from bottom to raise till equal marks, close handle again then reglaze using the toe and heel method. (packing around double glazed unit tightly according to hinge side fix, left or right.) This is hinged on the left looking from inside, so Packers on base: left and right (keeps glazed unit from sitting in water which can lead to failed/ misted up units!) but don't cover drainage holes! Bot left edge pack tight. Top right edge pack tight. And Top of unit in right corner pack as tight as poss because if loose packing around these important positions and most importantly top corner and edge of glazed unit, when you put beading back on and open the window (which should've been kept sat on Packers in corner to square up in frame while reglazing) in time the glazed unit will settle (drop) eventually and start catching the keeps again! Same applies to doors. Often you'll find silicone squeezed on top of packers but this won't help if packing not originally tight! If hinged on right side just reverse this info (bottom right edge, top left edge and top of unit all tightly packed!) Also WD-40 on all visible moving parts on the espagnolette(posh name for the lock mechanism)and hinges on all pvc doors and windows twice yearly as they can dry up and seize. Good vid!
Your window looks very similar to mine, apart from the locking bolts and plates that they slide in to. It looks like you have single bolts but I have *pairs* of bolts (4 pairs in total, per window). When the windows are open the pairs of bolts slide apart from each other. On 1 of my working windows I have tried to move the bolts up or down with my fingers (just like you did in this video), but they are VERY stiff to move like that. They certainly don’t move as easily as yours do by using fingers. Also the plates that the bolts slide in to look like they may completely cover any access to the bolts…. Therefore, I don’t think this wire trick will work? The issue definitely isn’t the handle because I have switched the handles around with a working window. When I try to open the jammed window, the bottom bolts of the window seem to unlock, but not the top bolts. I just don’t know what the do because even if I manage to squeeze wire in there, the bolts are very stiff and even the plates would block access to them….
Thanks for watching BBB. I'm no window expert but it sounds like the sliding mechanism has disintegrated somehow. If turning the handle wont move the bolt (the cam) then you're just going have to get serious with it using the wire method. There may be a way to insert a piece of flat metal (bent to the right shape) that will enable you to use more force on the bolt - with a hammer. One way or another the bolt or cam has to be moved. Let us know how you get on. b33zo
Thanks for watching Dr B. Sounds like the mechanism is broken. Use this method to get the window open then figure out what parts to order. Another idea might be to 'borrow' the parts from another window that you don't use much... b33zo
Helpful to see just how it came apart and works, and the 20mm/22mm conundrum! It may not be an exciting topic, but informative and concisely edited, love it, thank you!
Thanks for watching smokey and for compliments. Yes, hardly rocket science but as someone once said '2mm can make a lot of difference'. b33zo
I work on windows and doors on a daily basis , and you did very well .
Thanks for watching Roy. I guess lots our our windows don't get opened much but this particular kitchen window must have had plenty of use as the mechanism just disintegrated. ATB b33zo
Ive just bought a house and two of the windows have the smae problem, but stuck open so i cant close/lock them. Just had a quote for £140 EACH to fix. Think you may have just saved me a small fortune!
Thanks for watching Hayley. If you can fix them yourself you may add DIY Champion to your cv. Good luck. b33zo
Thank you but mine although a side bolt system didn't have those brass looking capstan, I later discovered the whole mechanism was a covered job which protruded the bolts at the sides! I actually managed to free the stuck bolt on one side by simply inserting a thick knitting needle into the handle shank hole in the middle at an obtuse angle to connect with the mechanism below and this opened the stuck bolt!! Of course, after all that the seems to be working fine again although the frames show a little of my frustrated attempts previous to your video and my investigations 😬😂 hope this is a clear explanation of my method
No way did this actually work for me!!!! (It did) THANKYOU SO MUCH! Lifesaver 🎉
Thanks for watching Francis. Definitely worth a try before ordering a new window...
b33zo
Bless you sir!! saved me from a very cold night..
3M00RI thanks for watching.
Take all the glazing beads out and remove the glass push the top out and up and it will pop open
Hey John this has literally been a life saver! Thank you 😊
Thanks for watching Kharl. A Christmas miracle! b33zo
Brilliant video thankyou .. Im about to replace my window looking mechanism and this helped out alot .. although my window is brand new on a new build property it broke after a few months due to new build houses using really cheap parts
Thanks for watching Stephen. Ask for Duncan at Nico if that's the brand you're replacing or contact Miranda for mechanisms. Good luck with your repair. b33zo
Love your patience!
@ALLK1LL3RNOF1LL3R thanks for watching. Patience and singing ability are the two main requirements of a DIY enthusiast. b33zo
Absolutely fantastic video thank you so much, about to give it a go , exactly the same as your problem, and the information on sizes for new part crucial, thanks once again.
Thanks for watching Adrian. Glad you found it helpful. Good luck with your repair. b33zo
You can use an allen key instead of the wire, slide it in then twist to face the mushroom. Well done matey
Thanks for watching @thinkforyourself3422 and sharing your knowledge.
My son tried to close the window without placing the handle in the correct position and now the mechanism on the underside is blocked. The handle is blocked and the window is not closing? :(
@@blackace4423 Thanks for watching. Sounds like a little dismantling job for you.
Winner winner chicken dinner …thank for an informative video…learnt something today ….👏👏👏👏
Thanks for watching Gary.
Very helpful, I have our kitchen window to tackle, so wish me luck
Thanks for watching Max. You'll get it to work - there's no other way! b33zo
Very interesting video. I've got a problem with an upstairs window in my house. The handle turns, but the cams don't move up or down, and so I can't catch (securely close) the window. I would imagine the gubbins has gone much like yours did.
@YelpBullhorn thanks for watching. Yes the innards of the mechanism seem to give way eventually. It's an easy enough (warm weather) task to replace the kit as you see on my video. Good luck with the job. b33zo
I'm out of ideas with two of mine (after working on others), using an old coat hanger might just work (I thought such might be too malleable, when I pondered the idea, but clearly you made it work👍💜), it would be easyish to work a shape from two of the windows that open. 🤞🤞✌️✌️👍😊💜
Thanks for watching muso. Don't keep us all hanging: have you got your window open yet? b33zo
I've used a 2mm Allen key and a pair of pliers to pull the cam up on mine.
@@derpcore9 thanks for watching cam.
@@b33zo Hi,
Sorry, I didn't get an alert for your reply☹️
I've not fixed the windows yet and another has just failed, first floor bathroom (a real chore). Frankly I can't keep up with modern equipment failing in our house, mostly out of warranty, planned obsolescence or made in China by the CCP - all race to the bottom shareholder capitalism type stuff with no care for the customer 🙄😕
The most longevity we've had from a constant use window is about ten years, maybe a tad more, often a lot less.
I need to find a decent brand of mechanism that will last.
The Bathroom one I've left partially open, the other two have failed shut (almost certainly it's a failed gearbox or the castings therein).
Old fashioned windows were almost trouble free🙄😊✌️👍
@@musoseven8218 I feel your pain. Plastic windows supposed to be maintenance free. Hinges fail, handles go wobbly and double glazing steams up...b33zo
As you closed the window at the end it sounded like the cams were hitting the keeps? Maybe you hadn't opened the handle fully, who knows? But if the handle was opened fully and it hits even one of those keeps then you need to drop the keep down a couple of mm's and re screw. But if the window has dropped (this one seemed ok) then deglaze, square up the deglazed opening on Packers in its subframe, if its tight to lift over Packers just push up top of opener with one hand while pulling onto bottom packers at same time, handle side only needs packing not hinge side, close handle then mark top and bottom with pencil, open handle to check pencil marks and pack from bottom to raise till equal marks, close handle again then reglaze using the toe and heel method. (packing around double glazed unit tightly according to hinge side fix, left or right.) This is hinged on the left looking from inside, so Packers on base: left and right (keeps glazed unit from sitting in water which can lead to failed/ misted up units!) but don't cover drainage holes! Bot left edge pack tight. Top right edge pack tight. And Top of unit in right corner pack as tight as poss because if loose packing around these important positions and most importantly top corner and edge of glazed unit, when you put beading back on and open the window (which should've been kept sat on Packers in corner to square up in frame while reglazing) in time the glazed unit will settle (drop) eventually and start catching the keeps again! Same applies to doors. Often you'll find silicone squeezed on top of packers but this won't help if packing not originally tight! If hinged on right side just reverse this info (bottom right edge, top left edge and top of unit all tightly packed!) Also WD-40 on all visible moving parts on the espagnolette(posh name for the lock mechanism)and hinges on all pvc doors and windows twice yearly as they can dry up and seize. Good vid!
Thanks for watching Charlie and for sharing your knowledge. b33zo
very useful regardless thankyou for the help
Thanks for watching YL.
Your window looks very similar to mine, apart from the locking bolts and plates that they slide in to. It looks like you have single bolts but I have *pairs* of bolts (4 pairs in total, per window). When the windows are open the pairs of bolts slide apart from each other. On 1 of my working windows I have tried to move the bolts up or down with my fingers (just like you did in this video), but they are VERY stiff to move like that. They certainly don’t move as easily as yours do by using fingers. Also the plates that the bolts slide in to look like they may completely cover any access to the bolts…. Therefore, I don’t think this wire trick will work?
The issue definitely isn’t the handle because I have switched the handles around with a working window. When I try to open the jammed window, the bottom bolts of the window seem to unlock, but not the top bolts.
I just don’t know what the do because even if I manage to squeeze wire in there, the bolts are very stiff and even the plates would block access to them….
Thanks for watching BBB. I'm no window expert but it sounds like the sliding mechanism has disintegrated somehow. If turning the handle wont move the bolt (the cam) then you're just going have to get serious with it using the wire method. There may be a way to insert a piece of flat metal (bent to the right shape) that will enable you to use more force on the bolt - with a hammer. One way or another the bolt or cam has to be moved. Let us know how you get on. b33zo
Thanks and appreciated for a great video
Thanks for watching Mike.
Brilliant thanks very much 👍👍👍👍 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks for watching dave and for compliments. b33zo
Great British engineering 🎉😊
Thanks for watching Christopher!
Awesome 👌
Thanks for watching ryze.
Got the same problem🤣🤣I just need to find an old coat hanger
Thanks for watching Dave. Good luck with your job. b33zo
my window handle turns but I cannot open the window ?
Thanks for watching Dr B. Sounds like the mechanism is broken. Use this method to get the window open then figure out what parts to order. Another idea might be to 'borrow' the parts from another window that you don't use much...
b33zo