Patio door lubrication

[amfisted]

We inherited UPVC patio doors when we bought this house last year, and it seems to me that their operation has become a little noisier than it once was.

Do patio door tracks require lubrication, and if so, what sort of easing solution should be used?

Ta.

 

[Gazman16]

The track itself no but it never hurts to give the wheels a spray. Silicone or graphite spray would be best.

If its still making noises your wheel bearings are probably wearing down and new wheels will be needed at some point.

 

[JohnD]

start by washing them out well. There may be dirt or grit. Oiling dirt makes it stick.

 

[amfisted]

I'll clean the tracks then give the (edit)wheels a squirt of WD40 and see how that goes.

Thanks a lot.

 

[Gazman16]

WD40 will attract dust and muck making things worse in the long run.
Silicone or graphite spray is what you want.

 

[amfisted]

Received and understood, though I thought WD40 was a silicone spray?

Perhaps you could give me a trade name, to ensure I get the correct product.

Cheers .

 

[Diyisfun]

You can get furniture spray polish, that is silicone.

or

https://www.google.co.uk/search?sou...0.0.0.5616...........0.0EpZ17LbXuM&gws_rd=ssl

 

[JohnD]

I thought WD40 was a silicone spray?

It is said to be based on fish oil.

Motoring places often sell silicone lube sprays, it is used for plastic things such as sliding sun-roofs.

 

[amfisted]

Its me and my patio door again.

I got the silicone spray, now I simply need to work out how to take the door off the tracks. Youtube clips appear to show the door simply lifting up and off, but not mine, Oh No.

The lock mechanism is on the right hand edge of the door, unsurprisingly, and down the left hand edge there is a trim which on cautious investigation seems to be removable, and which is limiting the ability of the door to raise on that side and thus preventing me from lifting it from the track.

Please advise me whether by removing this trim I will achieve my aim, or whether it will simply cause me to come back onto this site wailing about a new problem which I've caused by taking off the trim.

Thanks.

 

[Diyisfun]

Do you need to remove it?
I would try spraying with it on the tracks as a start.

 

[Gazman16]

With the straw type nozzles you can usually just spray it in from the sides, There may even be some small removable caps that give access to the adjustment screws.

Some doors cant be removed (terrible design) but you may just have anti lift blocks. Look for some little plastic blocks screwed into the top rail above the door. If you have them just take them off and the door should lift out.

 

[amfisted]

Thanks to you both.

I've sprayed dry silicone grease through the small gaps at either end of the bottom of the door and TBH the action does seem to be slightly smoother. However, its also noisier, as if one of the track wheels isn't running correctly, so maybe the spray has dislodged some debris which is now snagging the wheel.

I can't identify any way of removing the door without taking out the fixed section first, and to make matters worse, I managed to cut a finger quite badly whilst removing a piece of trim earlier on today. So now I intend to leave it until its REALLY stiff, then call in a professional.