Replace the Cord Stop on Your Cell Shade

Each brand of shade uses a slightly different style of stop, but they are all intended to connect the individual lift cords at one single tie-off point so that the shade goes up and down evenly and hangs level. The stop also prevents the small cords from being accidentally pulled back up inside the headrail.

Replace the Cord Stop on Your Cell Shade

via RepairWindowBlinds.com by Dave on 5/27/10

Did your dog or cat eat the tassel on the end of your cell shade pull cord?

Broken or missing cord stops and tassels are a common problem in almost every home. Sometimes they have been damaged by a pet. More often they just get brittle with age and break. When this happens it is always unsightly and it can prevent the shade from working properly.

The repair is inexpensive and something you can easily do for yourself.

Each brand of shade uses a slightly different style of stop, but they are all intended to connect the individual lift cords at one single tie-off point so that the shade goes up and down evenly and hangs level. The stop also prevents the small cords from being accidentally pulled back up inside the headrail.

Here is a good video about how to install a replacement cord stop assembly for a Hunter Douglas Duette cell shade. You may also want to watch the companion video about How to Replace a Broken Window Blind Cord.

How to disassemble the old parts.

Unless the old parts are so brittle as to be broken and useless, you may be able to take the old cord stop assembly apart and reuse whatever is salvageable. This isn't always as easy as you might think. After a few years in the sun, the old parts will often seem to be welded together. In theory, you should be able to pull them apart by holding the cover in one hand and pulling the heavy cord with the other hand. If that isn't working for you, then you will need to pry them apart. You can do that by inserting a small screwdriver into the slot and prying the pieces apart with a gentle levering action. Just be careful and don't stab yourself with the screwdriver.

Insert a small screwdriver into the cord stop assembly Click to Enlarge

   Using a gentle levering action pry the pieces apart Click to Enlarge

 

Tips for when you reassemble the cord stop.

• As the video shows, the narrow end of the equalizer goes towards the shade.

 

   Hunter Douglas Cord Stop Equalizer - Click to Enlarge

 

The wedge has a small ridge on one side. The side with the ridge goes against the lift cords and pinches them to keep them from slipping.

 

Hunter Douglas Cord Stop Wedge - Click to Enlarge

 

Trim the heavier pull cord close to the knot before you insert it into the housing. If you leave too much excess cord, you will have trouble getting the cover to fit tightly on the housing.

Hunter Douglas Cord Stop Housing Untrimmed Knot Click to Enlarge

   Hunter Douglas Cord Stop Housing Trimmed Knot Click to Enlarge

 

Adjust the shade to hang even and level before you assemble the cord stop housing.

 

Tie the tassel onto the other end of the fat pull cord and you're done.

Where to find replacement parts.

If you need parts you can order them from the shade manufacturer or they are available online at the following websites:

FixMyBlinds.com (Colorado Springs, CO) for Hunter Douglas Duette tassels and Hunter Douglas Duette Cord Stop Assemblies.

Or you can try DiscountBlindParts.com (Chicago, IL area) for the Hunter Douglas Duette cord stop assembly. They call it part NP-42 - you'll find it about 2/3 of the way down the page.

And finally there is BlindsParts.com (Tucson, AZ). This site sells the Hunter Douglas Duette tassel and cord stop assembly and some pull cord all in one kit.