How to tighten a window hinge?

[mart]

When opening the uPVC windows just a small amount- maybe about 3 inch, the wind will blow it open wider. This is because the hinge action is so free.

I understand that it may be possible to tighten a screw on the hinges, so that movement of the hinge is not so free.

There are a few screws on the hinges. Does anyone know how to identify the specific screw for this type of adjustment?

 

[DAPPH]

Usually it is a brass screw in the plastic rubbing block ..on our windows they are either grey or black blocks at the end of the sliding block closest to the wall ….opposite side to the handles . Don't forget the will be one at the top & bottom of the window .

 

[gaz1]

you want it stiffer but not so you need force to close it as it needs to slide enough not to damage the hinge point

 

[mart]

Thanks guys.

I should ask - for tightening the hinge action, which direction should I turn the brass screw?

 

[DAPPH]

Try 1/4 turn clockwise ...it should drive the brass screw in which will lift the upper rubbing surfaces in to the top of the grove & press the bottom down . Do the bottom one first , it if gives a bit more friction then do the top by the same amount .. don't get it so tight you have to use both hands to push hard to open the window .. It could be that 1/6 of a turn is sufficient it's definitely a suck it & see type exercise . Make sure the slide surfaces of the hinge where the block fits are clean & free of crud

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

The things you learn on this forum....I never even noticed that screw before!

 

[mart]

Perfect, thank you.

 

[DAPPH]

The things you learn on this forum....I never even noticed that screw before!

I've put this for you may find you need to replace any hinges that the rubbing block splits on. Our DG was nearly 26 yrs old, so some non upvc parts were brittle as I found out .


When I purchased this bungalow , a few weeks after moving in I discovered that Mr Nearly had been at the windows . Most of the rubbing blocks had been split apart because of being so tight . At £14 or so for a top & bottom hinge for thirteen windows I was none too chuffed ..
A few months later we discovered a water leak that Mr Nearly had attempted to repair in the bathroom , hidden under his home cast concrete shower tray that took the place of the bath. … only trouble was before it was rally noticeable it flooded the floor slab and the three feet of crushed stone foundations infill before we found out . During the drying out process the insurers repair team took up all the floor coverings and tiles of the kitchen & wet room floor , knocked off the plaster to 1500mm up all the walls then turned on a 1200 dia fan unit … blew up a massive cloud of floor & plaster dust . So they opened all the windows to try and get rid of it .. Yep! Within days every window hinge became solid because of the abrasive dust at least the insurers paid for the new ones this time but being true professionals they stripped every thread hole for the mounting screws as they put the new hinges on using a power screwdriver.

I ended up making dozens of thick match stick sized pegs out of some new upvc guttering and solvent welded them in the screw holes , giving them a decent encouragement to seat with an 8 ounce hammer . Then used a sharpened up wood chisel upside down trimmed the pegs flat once the solvent had set . .. then re drilled new pilot holes for brand new window hinge screws & refitted the hinges.

Mr Nearly ? We called the wheelbarrow with a flat tyre that because..... he " Nearly" got it right , Nearly completed jobs and Nearly set the place on fire by putting 50 watt halogen sunken fitting right through three roof trusses in his endeavours to get the lights precisely equally spaced in the L shaped hall way . Wont' mention him taking a disc cutter to the 25 mm copper pipes to move the hot water cylinder and used self amalgamating adhesive tape to remake the joints instead of soldering them back up . Then hid it with two new fibre glass tank insulating jackets .

 

[mart]

I can understand what buyers mean when they prefer a property to be left unmodernised. Rather than the chaos created by the Mr Nearlys, then left for new owners to put right. At great cost, inconvenience and a load of stress.