Sliding doors need lubricated?

Closed Thread
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 02-14-2022, 01:27 PM
billethkid's Avatar
billethkid billethkid is offline
Sage
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,467
Thanks: 0
Thanked 4,751 Times in 1,386 Posts
Default Sliding doors need lubricated?

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.
  #2  
Old 02-14-2022, 01:30 PM
ex34449 ex34449 is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 189
Thanks: 33
Thanked 227 Times in 94 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by billethkid View Post
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.
  #3  
Old 02-14-2022, 03:48 PM
Michael G. Michael G. is offline
Soaring Eagle member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 2,065
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2,132 Times in 812 Posts
Default

I'm in the market for sliders.
Anyone have the type with the rollers on top of the door?
  #4  
Old 02-14-2022, 03:59 PM
Bjeanj Bjeanj is offline
Soaring Eagle member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Santiago
Posts: 2,125
Thanks: 113
Thanked 1,477 Times in 548 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ex34449 View Post
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?
__________________
Teach your daughter how to shoot, because a restraining order is just a piece of paper.
  #5  
Old 02-14-2022, 04:05 PM
tophcfa's Avatar
tophcfa tophcfa is offline
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I happen to be.
Posts: 6,096
Thanks: 2,872
Thanked 9,083 Times in 2,746 Posts
Default

Silicone spray is a good option, that’s what I use.
  #6  
Old 02-14-2022, 05:58 PM
Topspinmo's Avatar
Topspinmo Topspinmo is offline
Sage
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Posts: 12,408
Thanks: 6,353
Thanked 4,939 Times in 2,459 Posts
Default

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?

Last edited by Topspinmo; 02-15-2022 at 03:57 PM.
  #7  
Old 02-14-2022, 05:59 PM
Topspinmo's Avatar
Topspinmo Topspinmo is offline
Sage
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Posts: 12,408
Thanks: 6,353
Thanked 4,939 Times in 2,459 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bjeanj View Post
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.

Last edited by Topspinmo; 02-14-2022 at 06:00 PM. Reason: Fingers hit wrong key as usual.
  #8  
Old 02-14-2022, 06:05 PM
dewilson58's Avatar
dewilson58 dewilson58 is offline
Sage
Join Date: May 2013
Location: South of 466a, if you don't like me.......I live in Orlando.
Posts: 11,592
Thanks: 851
Thanked 9,777 Times in 3,645 Posts
Default

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.

__________________
Identifying as Mr. Helpful
  #9  
Old 02-15-2022, 05:47 AM
DonnaNi4os DonnaNi4os is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 582
Thanks: 194
Thanked 328 Times in 196 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by dewilson58 View Post
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.

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.
  #10  
Old 02-15-2022, 06:21 AM
dewilson58's Avatar
dewilson58 dewilson58 is offline
Sage
Join Date: May 2013
Location: South of 466a, if you don't like me.......I live in Orlando.
Posts: 11,592
Thanks: 851
Thanked 9,777 Times in 3,645 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DonnaNi4os View Post
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.
__________________
Identifying as Mr. Helpful
  #11  
Old 02-15-2022, 07:09 AM
eeroger eeroger is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 168
Thanks: 3
Thanked 137 Times in 81 Posts
Default Patio Doors

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.
  #12  
Old 02-15-2022, 07:19 AM
richs631 richs631 is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 274
Thanks: 83
Thanked 325 Times in 135 Posts
Default

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
  #13  
Old 02-15-2022, 07:24 AM
ChicagoNative ChicagoNative is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 180
Thanks: 31
Thanked 301 Times in 88 Posts
Default

We were told by the installer NOT to use wd40, but pledge furniture polish. Haven’t had any issues since.
  #14  
Old 02-15-2022, 08:30 AM
chucklevy chucklevy is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 6
Thanks: 10
Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts
Default Lube for sliding doors

The best I've ever used is Endust. No oily residue.
  #15  
Old 02-15-2022, 08:37 AM
Rick777 Rick777 is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 4
Thanks: 1
Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post
Default

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.
Closed Thread

Tags
sliding, lube, oil, kind, thought


You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. Click here to revert to the old version.

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:02 PM.