DIY Kinda? Aluminum window screen back on its track - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Neato · 09-23-2008, 07:52 AM

For the summer we took out our screen to get a window air conditioner in. Now I cannot seem to get it back in.

It's a pretty old window, and aside from the two pretty standard wooden framed glass panes, it has two more sliding storm windows and finally a track that the screen would go in. Also, I should note, it slides side to side when you open or close, not up and down.

The screen goes in the farthest out track, and the track has a divider riveted into it, so I cannot even get the top lined up and work from there. It does look like the top has extra space to help get it into the bottom track. Maybe.
The entire frame and track is aluminum. I have no idea why I was able to get it out even, but it came out with a bit of work.

My best idea if nothing else works is to bend down the outside frames to get it in, then bash them back into place, but this seems like a bad idea as I will never get it straight like it should be, heh.
This is an apartment in the ghetto of town, so replacing it with a good window isn't really an option or anything like that.

Can anyone offer some wisdom?

kazoo · 09-28-2008, 09:28 PM

The outer track is typically the narrowest, so take out the two storm sashes, and then you should be able to fit the screen without difficulty. If that doesn't work, take some pictures of the assembly and some detail shots of the screen hardware and post them.

09-23-2008, 07:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
Neato Insane Location: The Oposite, Inverse of Hell (Wisconsin)	DIY Kinda? Aluminum window screen back on its track For the summer we took out our screen to get a window air conditioner in. Now I cannot seem to get it back in. It's a pretty old window, and aside from the two pretty standard wooden framed glass panes, it has two more sliding storm windows and finally a track that the screen would go in. Also, I should note, it slides side to side when you open or close, not up and down. The screen goes in the farthest out track, and the track has a divider riveted into it, so I cannot even get the top lined up and work from there. It does look like the top has extra space to help get it into the bottom track. Maybe. The entire frame and track is aluminum. I have no idea why I was able to get it out even, but it came out with a bit of work. My best idea if nothing else works is to bend down the outside frames to get it in, then bash them back into place, but this seems like a bad idea as I will never get it straight like it should be, heh. This is an apartment in the ghetto of town, so replacing it with a good window isn't really an option or anything like that. Can anyone offer some wisdom?

09-28-2008, 09:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
kazoo Psycho Location: Where the night things are	The outer track is typically the narrowest, so take out the two storm sashes, and then you should be able to fit the screen without difficulty. If that doesn't work, take some pictures of the assembly and some detail shots of the screen hardware and post them. __________________ There ain't nothin' more powerful than the odor of mendacity -Big Daddy