Tilt & Slide Patio Door - trouble shutting.

[Abertech]

I have a patio door which has a handle about half way up. The tip of the handle points straight up when the door is shut & locked. Turning it 90 degrees so it is horizontal allows the door to be tilted from the bottom (opening at the top) to allow air in. Turning the handle 180 degrees, so the handle tip points straight down and pulling it towards me allows the door to be slid open.

Trouble is, its a bit of a bugger trying to get it shut properly so I can lock it. Often the handle will get stuck in the horizontal position and therefore won't shut & lock properly. Sometimes I can get the door shut in one movement without any problems. Othertimes it can take 6 or

7 goes. Whatever knack there is to this - I dont have it!

Is this a sign that the handle is wearing out perhaps?

Is it possible for a company to change the door from a tilt & slide mechanism to one that just slides open/closed? (I think I'd find that easier)

[Terence]

"Abertech" wrote in news:1142093782.309151.260210 @e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com:

This won't help you one little bit.

Every year I go to lecture at a Cambridge college that has those doors fitted to all the student rooms fr access to a balcony. Every single room I have stayed in has had a troublesome door and others have also commented on this.

You are not alone !

Terence

[Abertech]

They seem to be more trouble than they're worth.

Can anyone then answer my second question: is it possible to change the mechanism from a tilt & slide to a straightforward open/shut door without replacing the whole thing?

I'm trying to find out if its possible to just replace the slide mechanism and the handle etc.

[dennis]

They can be replaced but the section for the sliding door is reversed when compared to a normal door. This would mean having the door open inwards rather than outwards Unless you can remove the frame and reverse it that is.

You need to talk to the original suppliers so they can make a door to fit the sections.

My slide and tilt door is fine.. have you tried oiling the metal band that runs around the edge of the door. They get very stiff if you dont oil them.

[Abertech]

Hi Dennis, The previous owner told me to spray a bit of WD40 on them every month or so. I'll try a bit of oil instead and see if thats any better.