Can't remove the patio door sliding panel

Home Owner from Secane, PA

Sep 22, 2023 9:56 pm

I just purchased a shore home and the slider does not work smoothly. Thinking the track and rollers need cleaning or replacing. I have lowered the rollers but lifting the door to swing out the bottom doesn't go high enough into the top track due to the ivory colored piece seen in the photo. There is also one at the bottom. The weather strip appears to also be attached to this piece. Is this piece removeable and how without breaking it. I have not found any labels or markings as to the door manufacturer.

Thank you

John

PS- I have purchased double hung window tensioners from you in the past.

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7 Replies

Dave Sr. from SWISCO

Sep 26, 2023 1:23 pm

Thanks for reaching out to us. I'm afraid I'm not immediately familiar with this setup. Looking over the photo you sent us, is this part attached to the top of the stationary patio door, or the active panel? If you are trying to lift the active panel off the track, try lifting it off from the inside of the house. Some patio doors lift off from the inside rather from the outside, so that may account for the problem you're having.

Home Owner from Secane, PA

Sep 26, 2023 2:45 pm

Thanks for the reply.

The photo is from inside, the piece in question is separate from the door and is on the active sliding panel. Just don't know if it pops off or not without breaking it. Looks like it could prevent the active panel from rising up enough to clear the bottom track. I have tried removing the panel from inside.

I am heading down to the house in the morning to give it another try. Unfortunately cell and internet service is not very good in this location.

Thanks

Home Owner from Secane, PA

Oct 3, 2023 3:06 pm

Thanks for the reply. The piece in question is shown in better detail in the photos below.

I was able to lift the panels out from the outside after I removed the handle from the sliding panel and slightly by-passing the panels and finding the screws which retain the piece to both the fixed and sliding panels. this piece also has a slot in it to retain the weather strip at the top and bottom. Only the top pieces needed to be removed to lift out the panels. The rollers are your part number 81-156. The rollers are in good shape just that the grease has them gummed up. I can clean and re-lube them and they will work fine. I looked at all frame and panel edges and was not able to determine the manufacturer. I hope you can identify the part and maybe point me in the right direction for replacements. The part is 1-1/2" high, about 1-1/8" wide and 3/8" thick. As a last resort, I may have to make something from wood with a groove I can glue the end of the weather strip to. Thanks!

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Dave Sr. from SWISCO

Oct 5, 2023 8:34 am

These photos are very helpful, thanks for taking the time to remove the piece in question. The bad news is that I do not recognize it, and nothing in our inventory appears to come close.

The 81-156 has also been used by many different door manufacturers, so that only narrows it down so much. Three of the most common brands I've seen are Patriot, Silverline, and American Craftsman. However this list is by no means exhaustive, those are just the names I've personally seen the most often when dealing with this roller.

I am very sorry for the inconvenience. It's just not a product we recognize.

Home Owner from Secane, PA

Oct 6, 2023 4:01 pm

I checked the manufacturers you recommended and no luck! They don't call me "The King of Improvise" for nothing! Found a piece of scrap vinyl bead board and cut it to size and modified the groove to accept the felt weather strip and will use a piece of plastic cap molding to retain the weather strip on the side.

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Dave Sr. from SWISCO

Oct 10, 2023 1:13 pm

That's a great solution! I'm glad you were able to craft something to fill the same function. I'm sure this information will help other customers n the future, too.