Sliding doors need lubricated?

[billethkid]

Our stackable sliders....4 double pane 8 foot high slders are very heavy.
I have cleaned and wiped down the tracks but the panels still seem very "stiff".

I do not want to use a lube (oil) of any kind....I thought maybe a silicone spray???

I am checking sliding window sources but wanted to see what some have done here.

[ex34449]

Our stackable sliders....4 double pane 8 foot high slders are very heavy.
I have cleaned and wiped down the tracks but the panels still seem very "stiff".

I do not want to use a lube (oil) of any kind....I thought maybe a silicone spray???

I am checking sliding window sources but wanted to see what some have done here.

Doubtful it's the tracks. Most likely it's the rollers themselves. I remove and clean ours every few years. They get pretty dirty.

[Michael G.]

I'm in the market for sliders.
Anyone have the type with the rollers on top of the door?

[Bjeanj]

Doubtful it's the tracks. Most likely it's the rollers themselves. I remove and clean ours every few years. They get pretty dirty.

Can you explain in more detail? Meaning, you have to take the door off the tracks, right? Are the rollers easy to take off/put back on?

[tophcfa]

Silicone spray is a good option, that’s what I use.

[Topspinmo]

I have single sliding doors. Have same problem, cleaning didn’t work, lubricant didn’t work, adjustment didn’t work. I remove locking brackets, lifted them out. (Very heavy, but doable it strong enough) turned the on side. In my case the rollers were encased in lower frame removed the screws, Took my big rubber hammer and short 2x4, and tapped the bottom frame off. (Make sure you look at the adjusters If they are pegged out get the next size larger rollers. Usually starting at around 1 inch. That way If wrong rollers were installed you will have adjust ability.) disassembled the rollers out of brackets, replaced with new ones, ran adjuster screw all way down, Reassembled, clean track good, installed door, locks, and adjusted with screw at end of door that lifts doorframe off the tracks. Slide like they was on ice now. Good for another 20 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFSE8xnrB_k

Video Should be similar to one you have?

[Topspinmo]

Can you explain in more detail? Meaning, you have to take the door off the tracks, right? Are the rollers easy to take off/put back on?

If aluminum you may have to take lower frame off to get roller assembly out. Watch video above if you have that type of sliding door.

[dewilson58]

I have not expert support for what I dew.

WD-40 on the lower track.
Wide it all off (clean) with a cotton cloth.
Repeat.

Then I use garage door track lubricant.
I got mine at Lowe's.
Spray the lower track.......run the doors open and closed a couple times.

Don't over spray, just collects dust.

:coolsmiley:

[DonnaNi4os]

I have not expert support for what I dew.

WD-40 on the lower track.
Wide it all off (clean) with a cotton cloth.
Repeat.

Then I use garage door track lubricant.
I got mine at Lowe's.
Spray the lower track.......run the doors open and closed a couple times.

Don't over spray, just collects dust.

:coolsmiley:

WD40 is not the best choice of lubricant as it is sticky and sand and dirt tends to stick to it. I had a condo on the beach and was told to use a silicone spray instead which is not sticky. Just a suggestion. Thanks.

[dewilson58]

WD40 is not the best choice of lubricant as it is sticky and sand and dirt tends to stick to it.

Don:
Read post.
It's a cleaning agent.
It's wiped clean.

[eeroger]

We had our large/tall & very heavy doors repaired by Todd Hunter, 352-217-1401. It took 2 guys with special suction cups to remove the doors, replace the rollers, adjust the doors once reinstalled and lubricate everything. It was expensive ($400), but we'll worth it.

[richs631]

There is an adjust screw on the slider and it’s very possible that you just need a slight adjustment. Maybe a quarter turn. Lubricant attract dirt which can make the conditions worse

[ChicagoNative]

We were told by the installer NOT to use wd40, but pledge furniture polish. Haven’t had any issues since.

[chucklevy]

The best I've ever used is Endust. No oily residue.

[Rick777]

Lubes don't work. The rollers are bad. Been through this with my triple doors on premier.
Call Romac. Give them your model number of doors. They will send out (2) 300 lb men who will take doors off (lift) and replace rollers. Next you need to clean the aluminum tracks with a 4x steel pad with aluminum cleaner. Couple hundred bucks but well worth it. I can roll my door with pinky finger now. Tracks look like new now. Don't let them put steel tube covers over tracks. Don't need them.

[MidWestIA]

try some wd40

[OhioBuckeye]

The only issue I’ve ever heard was the gas leaked out between the sliding door glass & the glass turned so Snow White you couldn’t see out. (Thermal Pane)

[Topspinmo]

I have not expert support for what I dew.

WD-40 on the lower track.
Wide it all off (clean) with a cotton cloth.
Repeat.

Then I use garage door track lubricant.
I got mine at Lowe's.
Spray the lower track.......run the doors open and closed a couple times.

Don't over spray, just collects dust.

:coolsmiley:

All good it rollers and not locked up.

[akin1]

Use LC Wax especially made for aluminum. Get it at Ace. It is the best.

[Topspinmo]

The only issue I’ve ever heard was the gas leaked out between the sliding door glass & the glass turned so Snow White you couldn’t see out. (Thermal Pane)

The gas probably leaks out before the rollers lock up? :ho:

[Proveone]

Our stackable sliders....4 double pane 8 foot high slders are very heavy.
I have cleaned and wiped down the tracks but the panels still seem very "stiff".

I do not want to use a lube (oil) of any kind....I thought maybe a silicone spray???

I am checking sliding window sources but wanted to see what some have done here.
There should be an adjustment for the rollers on the bottom side of each door/panel. The adjustment raises the door/panel so the door/panel slides on the bottom rollers.

[swiley]

Our stackable sliders....4 double pane 8 foot high slders are very heavy.
I have cleaned and wiped down the tracks but the panels still seem very "stiff".

I do not want to use a lube (oil) of any kind....I thought maybe a silicone spray???

I am checking sliding window sources but wanted to see what some have done here.

You may need to replace the rollers. I had that done on my former home and the doors worked like new afterwards. I would strongly recommend using a pro or a couple of guys with lots of muscle.

[Viv&Steve]

Our stackable sliders....4 double pane 8 foot high slders are very heavy.
I have cleaned and wiped down the tracks but the panels still seem very "stiff".

I do not want to use a lube (oil) of any kind....I thought maybe a silicone spray???

I am checking sliding window sources but wanted to see what some have done here.

Florida Sliding Glass Door Repair, LLC (http://www.floridaslidingglassdoorrepair.com/)

[worahm]

You should check if you have single or tantdem rollers on the sliding doors. Most sliding doors are installed with single rollers, which tend to ware quickly because of the construction debris that is left on the track. If the doors have only one roller at each side, have the rollers replaced with two, tandem rollers. Tandem rollers are built like the wheels on a trolley car or train. They distribute the weight better and the doors will slide with much less effort.

Click here for more info.... https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-Products-1791-Assembly-Roller/dp/B00A6G7PHO?th=1

[Rodneysblue]

WD40 is not the best choice of lubricant as it is sticky and sand and dirt tends to stick to it. I had a condo on the beach and was told to use a silicone spray instead which is not sticky. Just a suggestion. Thanks.

He is using it to clean not lubricate. He says he wipes it clean with a cotton cloth.

[stevesliders]

LC wax aluminum lubricant @ lowes, take hold in screw out not the adjustment screw this will allow lube to get on the rollers spray generously roll door back and forth this will make them roll better or make them worse if worse have rollers replaced.

[Michael G.]

He is using it to clean not lubricate. He says he wipes it clean with a cotton cloth.

There's a silicone spray called CRC in a red and white can sold at Ace that is wet when sprayed then dries and lubricates on the surface, not sticky.

[Topspinmo]

There should be an adjustment for the rollers on the bottom side of each door/panel. The adjustment raises the door/panel so the door/panel slides on the bottom rollers.


After 20 or so years the adjustment are usually rusted so bad you can’t turn screw with out stripping slots out.

[Topspinmo]

There's a silicone spray called CRC in a red and white can sold at Ace that is wet when sprayed then dries and lubricates on the surface, not sticky.

You can spray it all you want, but if rollers are not turning and sliding it won’t do no good. Now it the rollers are rolling then yes.

[montagnard1969]

We had a similar issue and called a company called “Bay Area Sliding Door Repair”. Home page Tampa Sliding Door Repairs | Bay Area Sliding Door Repairs | Free Quote (http://bayareaslidingdoorrepairs.com) and their phone # is 813.712.0211. They have a flat fee for each door based on the number of doors you have to repair. They came out, removed the doors, replaced the rollers on the bottom with stainless steel rollers, cleaned the tracks, installed the doors and aligned them for proper operation.
They told us to NOT EVER pressure wash the tracks or place any lubricant on them. This will only attract dirt and sand from blowing/raining storms. Since we have had them out we’ve been very satisfied with their work. Straight up front with the prices no matter how much time they need to spend. One of the technicians were the owner’s son. They were very polite and up front about what people experience with sliding doors. This is about all they do and travel from Lutz, Florida to all the beach communities. We live in Inverness, Florida and they traveled from Lutz to service our doors which is about 50 miles. Did a great job and told us if we have any other problems they’ll come out and make it good. This was done in 2020. Would recommend them to anyone.

[LizzieBorden]

I called the window guy, saw his truck in the neighborhood….he came and replaced the rollers, and it opens easily now. Doors are 17 years old…It was less than 100 dollars, as I had a window fixed as well. Message me if you want the number….’

[OhioBuckeye]

Yes you’re right, my point was & from what I got out of the comments, you can change rollers but a cloudy sliding glass door you would have to buy a new door, correct?

[worahm]

Replacing the rollers is not difficult. You will have to remove a couple of screws, slide them off the door and slip the new roller in place then replace the screws. The trolley rollers are designed to replace the single rollers.

[Topspinmo]

Replacing the rollers is not difficult. You will have to remove a couple of screws, slide them off the door and slip the new roller in place then replace the screws. The trolley rollers are designed to replace the single rollers.


Depends on type of sliding door design. Some the bottom frame has to be removed cause the roller assembly encased in frame.

[Farmhouse Burger]

Our stackable sliders....4 double pane 8 foot high slders are very heavy.
I have cleaned and wiped down the tracks but the panels still seem very "stiff".

I do not want to use a lube (oil) of any kind....I thought maybe a silicone spray???

I am checking sliding window sources but wanted to see what some have done here.



We had ours replaced today and the installers said to use silicone dry spray.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

Rollers don't slide. Rollers roll. Lubricating tracks is counterproductive. Same goes for overhead garage doors.

[kkingston57]

Doubtful it's the tracks. Most likely it's the rollers themselves. I remove and clean ours every few years. They get pretty dirty.

Depending upon age the rollers probably need to be replaced. Same amount of labor entailed and worthwhile to have rollers replaced.