81-137 & 141 details/door bottom weatherstriping
A home owner from Twin Cities, MN says:
September 7, 2011
I have submitted a photo of our glass patio door roller assemblies, and their dimensions do match those which Swisco qoutes for 81-137 and 81-141. However, before ordering, I did want to verify that my centerline measurement shown in photo #1 (7/16") also matches the corresponding measurement for 81-137 & 81-141. Can you verify this?
Further, does the higher priced stainless steel 81-137 offer any additional features over the plain steel 81-141, other than the stainless steel material itself. For example, does the 81-137 have ball bearings, while the 81-141 does not? Or, do both have sleeve bearings? The Swisco catalog copy does not specify.
Photo #2 that I have submitted, shows the bottom of our door with small "angle iron shaped" metal strips applied to the door bottom and wrapping around 90 degrees along the inside of the cavity that houses the roller assemblies. Fuzzy felt weatherstripping material is visible in the photo, obviously intended to ride against the ridge of the floor track. However, very little of it is remaining.
In fact, on the roller assembly not pictured, that metal w/felt weatherstripping is actually bent outward a bit, rubbing on the sides of the rollers. Does Swisco handle any replacement/repair product that can be applied to replace this worn original weatherstripping configuration? In particular, an improved product configuration?
At the top of our patio door opening, there is also a 'top header track', identical to the floor track. However, there are no roller assemblies on the top of the door. Just a smaller groove with a U-shaped steel and felt weatherstrip insert. This top weatherstrip seals along both sides of the top track's ridge, instead of like more modern doors, where the top weatherstripping rides along the outside of the door surfaces. The fact that there is a top track in addition to a bottom track made it difficult to remove the door!
While the top weather stripping is in fairly good shape, any Swisco products to repair/replace the battered bottom weatherstripping would be of interest.
I commend Swisco for providing this easy photo submission process. Six years ago, I submitted photos to Donna P. the old way, by e-mail attachment. She made it work and used it to clear up my problem immediately. So, I am glad you have now made it a routinely available to supplement customer inquiries.
Further, does the higher priced stainless steel 81-137 offer any additional features over the plain steel 81-141, other than the stainless steel material itself. For example, does the 81-137 have ball bearings, while the 81-141 does not? Or, do both have sleeve bearings? The Swisco catalog copy does not specify.
Photo #2 that I have submitted, shows the bottom of our door with small "angle iron shaped" metal strips applied to the door bottom and wrapping around 90 degrees along the inside of the cavity that houses the roller assemblies. Fuzzy felt weatherstripping material is visible in the photo, obviously intended to ride against the ridge of the floor track. However, very little of it is remaining.
In fact, on the roller assembly not pictured, that metal w/felt weatherstripping is actually bent outward a bit, rubbing on the sides of the rollers. Does Swisco handle any replacement/repair product that can be applied to replace this worn original weatherstripping configuration? In particular, an improved product configuration?
At the top of our patio door opening, there is also a 'top header track', identical to the floor track. However, there are no roller assemblies on the top of the door. Just a smaller groove with a U-shaped steel and felt weatherstrip insert. This top weatherstrip seals along both sides of the top track's ridge, instead of like more modern doors, where the top weatherstripping rides along the outside of the door surfaces. The fact that there is a top track in addition to a bottom track made it difficult to remove the door!
While the top weather stripping is in fairly good shape, any Swisco products to repair/replace the battered bottom weatherstripping would be of interest.
I commend Swisco for providing this easy photo submission process. Six years ago, I submitted photos to Donna P. the old way, by e-mail attachment. She made it work and used it to clear up my problem immediately. So, I am glad you have now made it a routinely available to supplement customer inquiries.
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Dave Sr. from SWISCO responded:
September 8, 2011
Good Morning,
The biggest reason you would use a stainless steel roller is because you live in a high humidity climate such as near the ocean. Both the 81-137 and 81-141 feature ball bearing wheels, the only difference is the material. That being said, I do not believe the replacement you are looking for is either of those rollers. Take a look at 81-018 and 81-149. I believe this similar style roller is closer to the roller you are replacing. We do carry a replacement for the woolpile (the "fuzzy" strip). While we do not have an alternate improved weatherstripping kit for your door, we most likely carry the replacement woolpile you need to replace exactly what you have. Either browse our woolpile catalog section or if you need help, send us a photo or drawing of the profile of your existing woolpile. |
A home owner from Twin Cities, MN says:
September 9, 2011
Dear Dave,
You are absolutely correct that I do NOT want the roller assemblies that I thought I wanted (81-137 or 141)!
I went by appearance as well as "dimensions that all matched", and I completely failed to notice that my selections had the mounting ears on the wrong side! Even after your reply, I still could not see why you had specified 81-018 instead.
I had to have my wife read your reply, and she quickly recognized why your specification was correct!
I still would like to verify if the centerline dimension of the adjusting screw on 81-018 is the same 7/16" that I illustrated on the first photo of our roller assemblies in the original inquiry?
This OEM dimension is important, in that the adjusting screw needs to line up with the our access hole in the door frame.
At 3/4", I do see that the dimension that Swisco quotes for the thickness of the 81-018, is 1/16" fatter than the one I removed, which was 11/16".
And, they were snug. They had to be 'wiggled' out. In your experience, is this likely to cause me problems?
Finally, as to the weatherstrip. I did consult the "woolpile" section of your catalog before describing to you my weatherstrip configuration in the original inquiry.
I did not see anything in that Swisco catalog section that duplicated my configuration. So, I proceeded to ask you about it.
Following your suggestion in your reply, I have now submitted to you a drawing and 2 photographs of the bottom weatherstripping configuration on my door.
If these 3 clarified photos allow you to offer further suggestions on repairing my bottom weathestripping at the same time I install Swisco 81-018 roller assemblies, I would be very pleased to hear your suggestions. Thanks.
You are absolutely correct that I do NOT want the roller assemblies that I thought I wanted (81-137 or 141)!
I went by appearance as well as "dimensions that all matched", and I completely failed to notice that my selections had the mounting ears on the wrong side! Even after your reply, I still could not see why you had specified 81-018 instead.
I had to have my wife read your reply, and she quickly recognized why your specification was correct!
I still would like to verify if the centerline dimension of the adjusting screw on 81-018 is the same 7/16" that I illustrated on the first photo of our roller assemblies in the original inquiry?
This OEM dimension is important, in that the adjusting screw needs to line up with the our access hole in the door frame.
At 3/4", I do see that the dimension that Swisco quotes for the thickness of the 81-018, is 1/16" fatter than the one I removed, which was 11/16".
And, they were snug. They had to be 'wiggled' out. In your experience, is this likely to cause me problems?
Finally, as to the weatherstrip. I did consult the "woolpile" section of your catalog before describing to you my weatherstrip configuration in the original inquiry.
I did not see anything in that Swisco catalog section that duplicated my configuration. So, I proceeded to ask you about it.
Following your suggestion in your reply, I have now submitted to you a drawing and 2 photographs of the bottom weatherstripping configuration on my door.
If these 3 clarified photos allow you to offer further suggestions on repairing my bottom weathestripping at the same time I install Swisco 81-018 roller assemblies, I would be very pleased to hear your suggestions. Thanks.
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Dave Sr. from SWISCO responded:
September 12, 2011
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