Adjustments for a Cord Pulley on a Drapery Rod

Installation

• One of the most basic adjustments you can make to a cord pulley on a drapery rod involves changing the tension pulley's location. The tension pulley is one of the elements that is not attached directly to the drapery rod. Instead, it mounts to the wall, window sill or a nearby baseboard. This allows the cord to hang down from the drapery rod before engaging the pulley, providing a way to draw the curtains open and closed using the cords. The tension pulley must be installed directly below the drapery rod pulley so the cord will work correctly and to prevent the cord and drapery from becoming entangled. The cord can be shortened to allow the pulley to be installed higher on the wall, if desired.

Head Position

• The position of a drapery rod pulley's head determines the angle at which the cord must meet it to engage properly. Turning the head 90 degrees from the direction of the cord will create a turn in the cord, which can create friction or cause it to become stuck. A greater turn will create the risk of knotting in the cord. If the pulley moves freely, you may need to adjust the head by turning it to let the cord fall straight down from the rod.

Tension

• With a drapery rod's pulleys in the proper position, and their heads turned parallel to the direction of the rod, you can adjust the tension of the cord. This tension refers to how tightly the cord is stretched between the slide, which moves back and forth along the rod, and the pulley. Besides moving the pulley to a different position, you can adjust tension by altering the length of the cord or placing a knot in the cord near the pulley that limits the movement of the drapery.

Lubrication

• Over time, dust and cord fibers can build up inside a drapery rod pulley's head, causing the cord to become stuck or requiring extra effort to move it. To keep the cord moving smoothly through the pulley, apply lubricant to the pulley. Dry lubricants, such as silicone-based household lubricant, will make the cord run through the pulley smoothly without leaving a residue on the cord that could come off on your hands or stain the drapery.