PVC door wont open / unlock

I had a similar problem and eventually got the door to open by lifting it within its frame. It seemed to progressively allow the rollers to clear their slots. I really can't remember what the fault had been but I fixed it prefectly with a new locking strip mechanism for the edge of the door. About £20 off e-bay.

Did you just grab hold of the door and lift, or did you lever it up from underneath?

Success, I did the above, put a spanner on the square spindle, levered up the door and then thumped the spanner.....door opened.

Still not sure what the issue is but will soon find it first warm day I get and take the mechanism out, first quick inspenction it appears to be working ok, with the hooks and bolts functioning.

May be the door is too low or the movable holes the hooks go into on the frame is/are too high.

NT

Sealed units not properly heel'n'toed causing the door to sag out of square?

Got a few cylinders but for the moment not required, the door is well secure.....and alarmed.

I had a similar mechanism that was very stiff to open or close and found the whole length of the strip up the door was covered in gummy residue, presumably of some lubricant. Very thorough cleaning of the strip, pivots and hooks, and silicon grease, enabled it to work freely.

You may well be correct as a quick visual looks out of square, I think I will try adjusting the hinges then check the mechanism and take it from there.

There is a just-the-cam "key" to open Euro locks without a cylinder, measure for the cylinder, and turn various square pegs... the German name for it is "Baustellenschluessel" ("site key", maybe?):

-- do a google and you'll see oodles. Maybe that'll get a bit more force on it?

Thomas Prufer

My next door neighbour had problems with the locking mechanism sticking and the short term solution was to pull the door towards you[1] with the handle whilst turning the key. This seemed to centre the bolt mechanism in the aligning holes better to give less friction when unlocking.

I did snap the lock, but I have it so the handle does not engage from the outside. and you would need more than brute force to open the door inwards to gain access.