Handles, gearboxes, hinges, stays and locks for tilt-and-turn windows and doors.
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Request service· Call (425) 678-5158
Tilt-and-turn hardware is a system of linked parts hidden in a groove around the sash: the handle turns a gearbox, the gearbox drives connecting rods, the rods move locking cams at the corners and sides, and the whole sash hangs on a bottom corner hinge and a top stay arm. When one part wears or breaks, the window stops behaving. Because most European hardware follows common standards, the broken part can usually be replaced without replacing the window.
The parts, and what fails
| Part | What it does | Typical failure |
|---|---|---|
| Handle | Turns the gearbox | Loose, cracked, spindle stripped |
| Gearbox (espagnolette drive) | Converts the handle turn into rod movement | Handle spins freely or jams |
| Connecting rods and corner drives | Carry movement around the sash | Bent or disconnected after forcing |
| Locking cams / rollers | Engage keeps; set seal pressure | Worn flat, sheared |
| Keeps (strikers) | Catch the cams on the frame | Loose screws, worn |
| Bottom corner hinge | Carries most of the sash weight | Worn bearing, sash drop |
| Top stay arm (scissor) | Holds the top in tilt and turn | Bent after wind slam or misoperation |
| Misoperation lock | Stops the handle moving when sash is open | Worn, causing the hanging-sash problem |
| Tilt restrictors, child locks | Limit opening | Broken or missing |
Which hardware do I have?
Look at the sash edge with the window turned open. Most hardware has a stamped or printed brand and sometimes a part number on the gearbox face plate or hinge. Common families in European windows include Siegenia, Roto, Maco, Winkhaus and GU. Send us a clear photo of that stamp, the handle and both hinges. That's usually enough for us to identify the parts.
A photo of the sash edge often tells us what's broken before we get there.
What we do
- Identify the hardware and source matching or compatible parts.
- Replace handles (including lockable and push-button child-safety handles).
- Replace gearboxes, corner drives, cams and keeps.
- Replace bottom hinges and top stay arms, and re-adjust the sash.
- Add tilt-before-turn, restrictors or upgraded security hardware where the system allows.
- Repair door multi-point locks and cylinders (see door repair).
Parts are ordered from Europe and usually arrive in under a month; small parts are air-shipped.
When parts are hard to find
Older or unusual hardware can be discontinued. In that case we look for a compatible modern replacement that fits the same Euro-groove and backset, or replace the full hardware set on that sash. We'll explain the options and costs before ordering.
What you can safely do
- Tighten a loose handle: swivel the cover plate at the handle base 90° to expose two screws and snug them. Don't overtighten.
- Lubricate cams, hinges and the stay arm with a drop of light machine oil or a hardware grease that's free of resin and acid.
- Don't force a stuck handle. Forcing bends rods and turns a cheap fix into a gearbox replacement.
Do you repair hardware on windows you didn't sell?
Yes. European tilt-and-turn and casement windows and European sliding/patio doors from any supplier.
We don't publish prices. Pricing depends on your distance from Seattle and the number of windows, so call (425) 678-5158 or send a service request with photos for a quote. We'll always tell you the cost before we start work. Parts are priced once we've identified them.
Call (425) 678-5158 · Request service →
My handle spins freely. The gearbox or the handle's square spindle has failed. It needs replacing.