About three years ago we moved into a 35 year old home. It has what I
believe to be the original double hung, wooden sash windows. We'll probably
be replacing them soon, but it's not in the budget yet.



On two of the windows, the cords used to counterbalance the sash are broken,
so the windows won't stay open. They are in a couple of least used rooms,
so it wasn't a big deal.

I finally got around to trying to fix them. I figured the cords went
around pulleys, and to the weights on either side of the frame.



What I found out is that at the top of the window frame (inside the frame),
there is a plastic trim piece held on by screws. Under that, on each side
is a metal mechanism, about the size of a pack of playing cards screwed into
the top of the frame. It has "Anderson Windows" stamped on it, along with
what looks like "CC 9 27 -12". In that are two wheels with springs that
wind up the sash cords. It doesn't look like there's any way to get the
thing apart, and I'm trying to figure out how to attach new sash cords to
it.



The other question I have is that I can't figure out how to get the sash out
of the frame so that I can attach the cord at that end. The track that is
used for both sashes on either side of the window frame is a single plastic
piece; there is no wood stop or divider strip; it's all part of the plastic
piece. On the right side, it's one continuous strip from the top to bottom.
On the left side, there is a horizontal break slightly above the middle.
The lower part of the track is screwed into the frame. The part that's
confusing is that if both sashes are up, the break is above the lower edge
of the windows. Even with the screws out, the track couldn't be removed.
It looks like the only way to remove the sashes is raise both sashes, remove
the screws, slide both sashes into the lower part, the pull the left side of
both sashes together with the unscrewed part of the track into the room.
That seems very awkward, and I can't help thinking there must be an easier
way.



I have done some google searching, but I'm not finding the information I
need.



Sorry about the length of this post.



Any suggestions would be appreciated.



- Mike O.