Stuck upvc window, broken gearbox, floating mullion?

ChilliBob

Yep, we have one in the front and one on the back. 

greenface2

ChilliBob said:

Cheers. I can get the bottom out by quite a bit but the top just doesn't budge.

Looking at a downstairs window it's tricky to see how a bolster would help. The shoot bolt sticks up into a holder, by the looks of it the holder would prevent anything from budging it. 

I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOURE SAYING AND PROBSBLY DIDNT EXPLAIN MYSELF WELL . IN THE OPEN POSITION push the bottom out to get a bit of space . put a bolster or wide chisel or flat bar / (something that can spread the force and not dent the frame ) wedge it in the top and lever it down to pop out the top shootbolt . 

greenface2

also I wouldn't replace with a Saracens shootbolt system just a standard espag will do about 800mm 

plumb1_2

greenface2 said:

ChilliBob said:

Cheers. I can get the bottom out by quite a bit but the top just doesn't budge.

Looking at a downstairs window it's tricky to see how a bolster would help. The shoot bolt sticks up into a holder, by the looks of it the holder would prevent anything from budging it. 

I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOURE SAYING AND PROBSBLY DIDNT EXPLAIN MYSELF WELL . IN THE OPEN POSITION push the bottom out to get a bit of space . put a bolster or wide chisel or flat bar / (something that can spread the force and not dent the frame ) wedge it in the top and lever it down to pop out the top shootbolt . 

greenface2 said:

ChilliBob said:

Cheers. I can get the bottom out by quite a bit but the top just doesn't budge.

Looking at a downstairs window it's tricky to see how a bolster would help. The shoot bolt sticks up into a holder, by the looks of it the holder would prevent anything from budging it. 

I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOURE SAYING AND PROBSBLY DIDNT EXPLAIN MYSELF WELL . IN THE OPEN POSITION push the bottom out to get a bit of space . put a bolster or wide chisel or flat bar / (something that can spread the force and not dent the frame ) wedge it in the top and lever it down to pop out the top shootbolt . 

As greenface says use a bolster, don’t use anything with a sharp edge as you’ll deffo make a dint in the upvc. Sometimes I’ll push the bottom out and put a block of wood in to keep it forced out, giving yourself a free pair of hands.But 90% off the time I take the glass out, 2 minute job.

ChilliBob

Well the guy has come and gone... For reference... 

* Glass out first (in less time than it took me go make him a cuppa, exactly as said, with beading off etc)
* Scraper to leaver our the shoot bolt
* Window off to get better access to the gearbox and the shoot bolt covers (external shoot bolts)
* Replaced with another Saracen one, but a slightly different sort, seems the ones with black bits like mine aren't made anymore
* All pub back, some what looked like caulk but must have been grab adhesive on packers.

£80 later and job sorted.

Many thanks for your comments guys, if I was going to have a crack I would have got most of the way there with them I think!

Now to change the handles!.. Bit wobbly! 

plumb1_2

Give all your windows a bit of a service, spray the hinges and mechanism’s with silicone spray and move um about a bit. Don’t use wd40.
Everyone should do it once a year.

ChilliBob

plumb1_2 said:

Give all your windows a bit of a service, spray the hinges and mechanism’s with silicone spray and move um about a bit. Don’t use wd40.
Everyone should do it once a year.

That's exactly what he said. I mentioned 3 in one oil, he shuddered and said it helped short term but made things worse in the long term.

Does silicone spray go under a commercial name? 

greenface2

Soudal do a good silicone spray but I wouldn't say it was the best . when you have one and it does a job . it becomes the bees knees . wd40 is better than none 

plumb1_2

Wd40 do make a silicone spray

ChilliBob

Cheers guys, plenty of choices on Amazon. I was being silly and searching for cellulose spray as the bloke said that for some reason!