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Components of a typical window shade mechanism: flat pin, ratchet, and stationary pin (at the other end).
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A window shade is a flexible covering attached to a roller mounted at the top of a window, designed to regulate the light or view. A window shade uses a hollow roller with a coiled spring inside. Pulling down on the shade puts more tension on the spring. Once you stop pulling, a ratchet and flat pin at one end of the roller holds the tension until you release it. The other end of the roller has a round stationary pin that turns freely in its bracket.
A roll-up blind is a combination of a venetian blind and a roller shade. A roll-up blind has slats and pulleys that move only up and down; there is no tilting mechanism.
Loosen spring tension:
- Roll up the shade and lift the roller out of the brackets.
- Unroll the shade halfway by hand. Replace the roller in the brackets.
- Repeat if necessary until the tension seems correct.
Tighten spring tension:
- Pull the shade down halfway. Lift the roller out of the brackets.
- Roll up the shade by hand. Replace the roller in the brackets.
- Repeat if necessary until the tension seems correct.
Adjust a fully uncoiled spring:
- Remove the roller from the brackets.
- Unroll the shade halfway. Use pliers to turn the flat pin until you feel tension, then back off so the pawl (latch that allows movement in only one direction) hooks onto the ratchet.
- Loosen or tighten spring tension as necessary using the directions above.
Release a spring that is locked in the coil:
- Remove the roller from the brackets.
- Use pliers to grip the pin and twist it clockwise to free the pawl. Release it quickly to unwind the coil.
- Loosen or tighten the spring tension as necessary using the directions above.
Replace roll-up shade fabric:
- Remove the shade from its brackets and unroll it.
- Remove the old fabric.
- Use a T-square to align the fabric on the roller.
- Staple or tape the new fabric to the roller.
- Loosen or tighten the spring tension as necessary using the directions above.
- Replace the shade in its brackets.
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