slider door stuck,

Got a 12' slider door on the east side of my pole barn. Inside sits my plow tractor. Door on south end of building isn't usable as the wardens camper is in the way. Went to open door yesterday and wont open. Went underneath the door with a pick and made sure it wasn't froze. Shoveled snow away from wall where the door opens to. Still nothing. Looked above didn't see anything that should block rollers. I'm big and got a steel wedge and pried the door open about 8". no more. After 1.5 hrs I had to pry it back shut and call it a day. Can anyone think of other tricks to try. This door has been opening well till this week.

My guess, 1 end of a track roller is off track or 1 wheel came off axle of track roller assembly. I suggest getting a ladder and give rollers a good exam. you may have to access inside to give it a good look also. BTDT, leroy

Did you unhook the latch....Sorry that's my normal scenario.

I hate sliding doors. No way to get out without ruining the door at this point unless you wait for a thaw.

If it is the single roller track they will come off the track then can be a to get back on. We use a thin board about 3 inches wide to reach up to push it back in place easier than getting a ladder and can't see in there anyway. If it is the double roller track. Could be frozen if water or snow got blown in there.
We oil ours in the spring or in the fall push much easier doing that. Goes from 2 hands and hard push to 1 hand and easy to push. We put the oil in the track as the rollers turn the oil will get on the needed places.

I had the same thing yesterday. The roof has about 18" of snow on it and I think that the lam beam header is sagging. The door was dragging on the cement. I never thought it could happen. I took the Hilift jack (man killer) and lifted on one of the cross braces and it closed just like in summer. If you are in an area with a lot of snow this year make sure your building insurance is up to date. No, the cement isn't rising because we have had lots of cold winters and this has never happened before.

Did the floor heave below it and press the door up?

Did a roller go bad?

If a pipe track, did a pipe turn so the track slot doesn?t line up?

Snow or ice in the bottom door track or in the track the door slides off behind?

Paul

Paul

Probably can't swing the bottom out a foot or so can you?

Ditto.

That's why I replaced all of mine with overheads.

The dirt underneath is frozen. I have to dig mine out constantly or that happens. Let it thaw.

MJMJ has it I believe.. on my 43x63 bulding I have two large doors that both drag when it gets gold and the ground freezes hard. Sounds like someone raking their nails down the old chalkboard times 100.. anything within a mile knows when Im up and going.. not much to do now and bythe time it thaws all will be good and you'll prob forget about it till next year..LOL..thats what happens to me anyway..

if you can get it open and have access to propane heater (like the torch kind that burns weeds in driveway) or torpedo heater.. I have done that to heat ground to scrape to get by.. wouldnt heat it with door still closed as heat wouldnt be good for door paint..

Good Luck

The only way to not have frost heave is have not dirt under the door and a concrete footer that goes below frost line along with a french drain with pea gravel . Dry dirt can't freeze and heave . So what ever your frost depth is in your area go deeper then it and poor a concrete Tee apron , what i am talking about here is a concrete pad extending out away from the building with aslight down ward slope to keep water running away from the door area and a two foot wide footer that goes down below frost line as to what you think is the frost line NORMALLY plus the french drain on the outside of the footer to help keep moisture away and extend that apron on into the building . So you keep your snow removal toy in side so you will probably keep the drive to the building as snow free as possible and by doing so allow the frost to go deeper then the rest of the area . One learns alot over the years . We have had learning experiences over the years with buildings . That trick was given to me by a friend that had a super nice pole building as a shop where he ran his diesel engine rebuilding operation out of . his MOTO was it only costs a dollar more to go first class the first time .

Others have it right. Frozen ground raised. Someone said swing door out a foot. That is what you have to do. Take guide off and swing door out. Open door and leave it open rest of winter. Secure door open somehow or next wind will rip it off. Before next winter, cut door off about 4". Or rearrange shed to park tractor in south door.

You have probably already done this, clear all the ice and frozen ground out to an inch or more below the bottom of the door for the full length of the door's travel to its fully open position. Also check that no rocks or ice chunks are being dragged along with the bottom edge and inside edge of the door that will jamb when they pass between the lower door guides. Sometime those chunks get pushed up inside the door when clearing the door and they will cause more jambs the next time the door is opened.

My bet is on ice or frost heave.

Some of the old rollers had a visible nut and stud to the outside to level or set the height, if so crank them a little tighter to raise the door for now.

I’ve got one that won’t slide too.Throw some salt around the bottom you’ll find out it a hurry if that’s the problem.]