Why does my casement crank spin without opening the window?
The teeth inside the operator gearbox are stripped. The operator gets replaced — $275 parts and labor — and the window cranks like new.
$275, parts + labor
Crank Spins, Window Doesn't Move? Operator Replacement — $275
Sounds like: crank handle spins but the window doesn't move · casement window won't open or grinds halfway · operator arm bent or seized
When a casement crank spins without moving the window, the operator gears are stripped — WowFix replaces the operator mechanism for $275 on any brand, including Pella and Andersen casements.
Why It Fails
A casement window opens on a geared arm called the operator. Two things kill it: stripped gears — the crank spins free and the window sits still — and a seized arm, usually after paint or corrosion locks the track and somebody keeps cranking anyway. That last part matters: forcing a stiff casement bends the arm, and a bent arm turns a lubrication job into a full operator replacement.
How the Repair Goes
We pull the operator, match it by hinge geometry and arm length (dyad, split-arm, or awning pattern), mount the new unit and set the sash travel so it closes square against the seal. $275 covers the operator, labor and the 5-year warranty. If the window is just stiff and the gears are alive, we'll say so — that's a clean-and-lubricate, not a parts sale.
Brands
Pella and Andersen casements are the volume here — their operators are brand-specific castings we match by model year. Truth homeowners deserve: on some 1990s Pella lines the operator costs more than generic, but it's still a fraction of the $1,000+ a new casement runs.
Repair vs. Replacement
A new operator is $275; a new casement window is well past $1,000.
Honest DIY note: Operators are geared to the hinge geometry; forcing a seized one usually bends the arm and doubles the job.
FAQ
My casement window is very hard to crank — same problem?
Usually earlier-stage: a dry or corroded track. If the gears are still good it's a clean-and-adjust, and we'll tell you that instead of selling an operator.
Do you fix Pella and Andersen casement cranks?
Yes — they're the most common ones we see. Operators are matched by brand and model year, including discontinued patterns.
Casement crank / operator repair near me? Serving Charlotte, Raleigh & Greensboro
Casement crank / operator calls come in from all three of our metros — Charlotte, the Raleigh–Durham Triangle and the Greensboro–Winston-Salem Triad — plus the towns around them, from Huntersville and Matthews to Cary, Apex and Kernersville. The price doesn't change with the zip code: $275, parts + labor, any brand, written 5-year warranty.
Applies to: casement, awning. Every repair carries a written 5-year warranty.