The bottom bolt on my aluminium multilock back door is not lifting to allow
the door to be opened. The remaining bolts are OK but I don't want to use
force to twist the door as it is fully double glazed other than the
aluminium frame. The door is about 23 years old and sits in an alluminium
frame. How can I fix this?
Bill

Tricky. My guess is the bottom bolt has become detached from the rack
that moves it.

Were there any warning signs of trouble? Or one day it just stuck?

If you're very lucky, the bottom bolt is "loose" and might be levered
up sufficiently if you can get a shim/screwdriver in there. If you can
coordinate someone levering the bolt up at the same time as operating
the other bolts, it might just catch and move.

Failing that, I would guess your options are either to cut/drill into
the sill to allow the bolt to pass through in its current position,
then add a repair piece later, or to saw through the bolt in situ (if
it's not entirely blocked by the sill/door moulding shape).

Given that the bolt may be a special, and given the age of the door -
it may be hard to replace.

For once, it may be better to get a locksmith that may have some
resourceful tricks, or tools specifically for this sort of problem.

RubberBiker wrote:
Tricky. My guess is the bottom bolt has become detached from the rack
that moves it.

Were there any warning signs of trouble? Or one day it just stuck?

If you're very lucky, the bottom bolt is "loose" and might be levered
up sufficiently if you can get a shim/screwdriver in there. If you can
coordinate someone levering the bolt up at the same time as operating
the other bolts, it might just catch and move.

Failing that, I would guess your options are either to cut/drill into
the sill to allow the bolt to pass through in its current position,
then add a repair piece later, or to saw through the bolt in situ (if
it's not entirely blocked by the sill/door moulding shape).

Given that the bolt may be a special, and given the age of the door -
it may be hard to replace.

For once, it may be better to get a locksmith that may have some
resourceful tricks, or tools specifically for this sort of problem.
Might be worth taking the glass out and attacking from inside the
glazing rebate. At least then any damage should be covered up by the
glass when you replace it.

Bob

"RubberBiker" wrote in message
...
Tricky. My guess is the bottom bolt has become detached from the rack
that moves it.

Were there any warning signs of trouble? Or one day it just stuck?

If you're very lucky, the bottom bolt is "loose" and might be levered
up sufficiently if you can get a shim/screwdriver in there. If you can
coordinate someone levering the bolt up at the same time as operating
the other bolts, it might just catch and move.

Failing that, I would guess your options are either to cut/drill into
the sill to allow the bolt to pass through in its current position,
then add a repair piece later, or to saw through the bolt in situ (if
it's not entirely blocked by the sill/door moulding shape).

Given that the bolt may be a special, and given the age of the door -
it may be hard to replace.

For once, it may be better to get a locksmith that may have some
resourceful tricks, or tools specifically for this sort of problem.

The same thing happened with the front door while still under warranty. The
installers, now out of business, sawed the bottom of the bolt but this left
the bottom of the door a bit springy ie you could pull it out a bit at the
bottom corner. I have since replaced that door.

I'd prefer not to cut it if poss but I'll try out your suggestions before I
revert to professional help. I just hope that their solution is not to cut
it as well.

Bill

"Bill" wrote in message
o.uk...

"RubberBiker" wrote in message
...
Tricky. My guess is the bottom bolt has become detached from the rack
that moves it.

Were there any warning signs of trouble? Or one day it just stuck?

If you're very lucky, the bottom bolt is "loose" and might be levered
up sufficiently if you can get a shim/screwdriver in there. If you can
coordinate someone levering the bolt up at the same time as operating
the other bolts, it might just catch and move.

Failing that, I would guess your options are either to cut/drill into
the sill to allow the bolt to pass through in its current position,
then add a repair piece later, or to saw through the bolt in situ (if
it's not entirely blocked by the sill/door moulding shape).

Given that the bolt may be a special, and given the age of the door -
it may be hard to replace.

For once, it may be better to get a locksmith that may have some
resourceful tricks, or tools specifically for this sort of problem.

The same thing happened with the front door while still under warranty.
The installers, now out of business, sawed the bottom of the bolt but this
left the bottom of the door a bit springy ie you could pull it out a bit
at the bottom corner. I have since replaced that door.

I'd prefer not to cut it if poss but I'll try out your suggestions before
I revert to professional help. I just hope that their solution is not to
cut it as well.

Bill

Well it's fixed, inasmuch as the door can open and close, unfortunately I
had to cut the bolt. It had disconnected from the lock but I coudn't find
out how to get to the lock without drilling through a couple of rivets. I
thought the bolt / rod would screw into the lock but I couldn't turn it.
I hope I don't have to replace the lock any time soon.

Thanks for your help guys.
Bill