Removing a jammed window

[oORusHOo]

Hey all :]

My window has jammed shut.
It's one of those windows which opens in two directions, either on a tilt, or swing out like a door.
Currently it does neither, because it is jammed

Does anyone know how you might fix this? I've tried locking/unlocking the lock.. but it doesn't seem to make a difference. The handle literally wont twist at all beyond what's shown in the following pictures. It also isn't totally closed, it wiggles a little bit (on a tiny bit of a tilt).

I have no idea what to do, because there's no screws/etc to take things off. I was thinking you might be able to take the pin out of that top hinge... but... meh, i'm not even sure if you can. I know nothing about NDE ways of opening windows

Pictures in links because the filesize is quite large:

Handle:
http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/6751/imgp7689.jpg

Lock:
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/2784/imgp7693.jpg

Bottom hinge:
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/6213/imgp7691.jpg

Top hinge:
http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/9414/imgp7692.jpg

Cheers guys :]

[Squelchtone]

don't pick windows in use!

[oORusHOo]

Heheh

Unfortunatly, unless i figure a way to open it, i'll never be able to use it again!
It's actually been jammed for a month or two now, i just never thought to ask here as it isn't strictly a lock question (it isn't the lock thats jammed, but rather the opening/closing mechanism).

I just figured, what with all the practical knowledge you guys have, you might know what to do :]

[mhole]

Tilt'n'turn windows can get in a tangle if they get stuck in an 'inbetween' position, and one of the lokcing points doesn't engage fully.

This is usually caused by moving the window with the handle partially turned, or by one of the hinges coming loose and not lining up correctly. Try pushing the window back into correct alignment, then turning the handle to lock it in place. Don't force it, but be prepared to use a littl more force than usual to clear the jam.

Alterantively...

Where in the UK are you? I'm based in North London, and could arrange for me or a collegue to come and sort your window if you are local. Price would be from about £60 upwards.

[oORusHOo]

Thanks mhole, i'll give that a shot now!

Unfortunatly, i'm in Cardiff right now - so it's a bit out of the way

This is usually caused by moving the window with the handle partially turned,

Sounds like the kinda dumb thing my girlfriend would do -____-;

I'll try using a bit of force on the hinges to make them align, etc, but if i can't do it... i don't know...

[unlisted]

heh- maybe the STAFF at Cardiff University can fix their window?

And what are they doing giving you a key for the window? last time I checked UK windows opened two ways for only a main reason- to prevent pple from falling out when its "open for cleaning" and the other is to trick people into thinking they are getting fresh air..

Don't pick locks or window locks in use. Man up, call maintenance and tell them its fubared- and stop picking it

[oORusHOo]

Oh, erm, I am a student - but this is my flat window
I own the flat (well, the bank does).. so no one is going to bale me out

I took the pin out of one hinge - did nothing. Now it's stuck and if it does ever come free will fall out -_-;

The handle isn't actually turning to whole way, so I think the window might have half-locked it's self. (If things can spontaneously lock themselves...)

I don't have the key, and i remember trying to pick the windows when i moved in all those year ago. Maybe my disregard of 'do not pick locks in use' has come back to haunt me =P

[mhole]

Is the handle locked or not?

[oORusHOo]

It doesn't look locked (ie, the lock is in the unlocked position), but the bits behind the locking mechanism might be in the locked position.... (if that's possible)

[EmCee]

Hiya

You said that you would 'try using a bit of force on the hinges' and later that you'd removed the pin from one of the hinges...but did you try what mhole suggested?

Is the window closed tight all round? Try pushing against the top rail (ie against the tilt opening direction) while trying to move the lever handle to the normal closed/locked position. Then try pushing against the stile on the opening side while again trying to move the lever. It would probably be better to have two people, one to push on top/side while the other tries to move the lever. As mhole said, you don't want to force the lever too hard, but perhaps with a bit more force than normal.

If that doesn't work, then to be honest you'd probably be better off getting someone in to look at it. Unless you know what you're doing (and I don't mean any insult by that), I wouldn't start removing hinge pins - if the casement shifts slightly so the holes in the hinge don't line up it might be difficult to realign it so the pin can be put back. At worst the whole thing might fall out and it might be heavy, although I can't tell from the images how big the unit is.

Cheers...

[Rickthepick]

Thats gonna be a tough one... high rise window doesnt help matters

[oORusHOo]

I tried what mhole suggested, but alas, no gold. The thing really has very very little movement in it, and the handle is barely turning at all. It's just totally stuck =P

To better understand the mechanism, i started removing screws/etc from a working window to see what effect it had on the bar which slides when you rotate the handle (which is the thing that's getting stuck). I was thinking, if there was someway to disconnect the bar from the handle, i could slide the bar manually, and get the window open (or closed).

What happened, was exactly what EmCee was worried about. The whole thing came off the brackets (the screw i was unscrewing was clearly holding it to the bracket. pretty obvious when i look at it now.

Fortunately, i managed to catch it as it fell (and it fell in, not out ) and I managed to put it all back together no problem - but i think the lesson learned here is that if learning (which is a good thing) becomes dangerous (which is a bad thing), then you should get someone else to show you how it's done. =P