Author Topic: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?  (Read 2187 times)

AdelaidePagoda

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Doors stick and need a firm shoulder to open from the inside.
What is the best way to free them up?
Dave Cleghorn
January 1964 230SL 4SPD Power Steering
050 050 Black Soft top, Red Leather interior
Italian delivered/ Germany/ Florida/ Boston/ Sydney/ Adelaide (5th owner)

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Pawel66

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Re: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2022, 11:33:01 »
Adjust door to chassis and then adjust locks?
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

Cees Klumper

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Re: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2022, 13:24:11 »
Hope the hinges are not frozen/binding, check that also. I believe they can be lubricated.
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

Pawel66

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Re: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2022, 14:08:52 »
Yes, you need a special greaser fitting for that, cone-like. Something like this: https://archiwum.allegro.pl/oferta/koncowka-stozkowa-do-smarownic-neo-11-535-i5566351799.html
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

kampala

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Re: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2022, 15:38:52 »
If the sticking is only for the first release and then okay - on the door jam, there is a metal/rubber cylinder tube that the door coned pin goes into. Clean this cylinder and the pin fully.   Degrease it.  Then try the door.  If it works, then apply some thin lubricant to the pin. 

250sl - later - manual
280sl - 1971 - Auto - LSD

Aslam

AdelaidePagoda

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Re: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?
« Reply #5 on: April 14, 2022, 11:43:23 »
Brilliant, thanks everyone for your responses. I will try all suggestions this weekend.
Dave Cleghorn
January 1964 230SL 4SPD Power Steering
050 050 Black Soft top, Red Leather interior
Italian delivered/ Germany/ Florida/ Boston/ Sydney/ Adelaide (5th owner)

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Vespa

Cees Klumper

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Re: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?
« Reply #6 on: April 14, 2022, 12:13:25 »
One more tip from my own experience last week on my Triumph Spotfire, whose passenger door was also hard to open, is applying penetrant (I used PB Blaster) on the hinges. After a day or two the binding went away completely.
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

ja17

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Re: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?
« Reply #7 on: April 15, 2022, 02:59:33 »
Sometimes the receiver on the door jamb needs adjusted. Loosen all three adjustment screws (please use a correct screwdriver or bit #3 phillips), then snug them up a bit, close the door (this will align the receiver since it is just snug and can move). Open the door and tighten down all three screws completely. Use some grease inside the receiver hole. If this procedure does not solve the problem try adding a shim under the receiver. Notice most of the receivers are adjusted with shims at the factory. Sometimes they are left out during repairs or restoration.  Adjust as described above after adding the shim.
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

cabrioletturbo

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Re: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2022, 01:03:18 »
with ja17 on this one.
Igor
1965 W113 230SL, Ivory with Black

AdelaidePagoda

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Re: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?
« Reply #9 on: April 24, 2022, 12:56:39 »
Thanks all, a combination of all suggestions worked perfectly, grease, adjustments and shims. They open nicely, now if I can only work out how to fix the squeak in the passenger door hinge when opening and closing……😀
Dave Cleghorn
January 1964 230SL 4SPD Power Steering
050 050 Black Soft top, Red Leather interior
Italian delivered/ Germany/ Florida/ Boston/ Sydney/ Adelaide (5th owner)

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Vespa

Cees Klumper

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Re: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?
« Reply #10 on: April 24, 2022, 13:00:23 »
PB Blaster on my door hinge cured squeek. Good luck, almost there!
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

Pawel66

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Re: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?
« Reply #11 on: April 24, 2022, 13:16:16 »
Thanks all, a combination of all suggestions worked perfectly, grease, adjustments and shims. They open nicely, now if I can only work out how to fix the squeak in the passenger door hinge when opening and closing……😀

As Cees said, you need to grease the hinges. A particular fitting is required, discussed here on the forum.
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

AdelaidePagoda

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Re: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?
« Reply #12 on: April 24, 2022, 13:51:17 »
PB Blaster is not available in Australia. I will use WD40 which is the nearest I can readily source and have on hand.  Drip feeding this into the hinges will work, I just need to be patient as I do not have the greaser tool Pawel referenced. Thanks for your advice.
Dave Cleghorn
January 1964 230SL 4SPD Power Steering
050 050 Black Soft top, Red Leather interior
Italian delivered/ Germany/ Florida/ Boston/ Sydney/ Adelaide (5th owner)

Model S Tesla
Vespa

Pawel66

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Re: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?
« Reply #13 on: April 24, 2022, 15:35:54 »
IMHO the WD40 solution is just temporary, but I may be wrong.

The fitting is nothing special, I think most of the hardware stores should have it. In this example the price of ca $10 is for 5 pcs: https://allegro.pl/oferta/koncowka-smarownicy-stozkowa-ostra-m10x1-umeta-5sz-11676482468

True that you may need a stiff pipe (instead of flexible hose) for the greasing gun to press against the zerk in the hinge. But it may not be necessary, I am not sure.
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

ja17

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Re: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?
« Reply #14 on: April 25, 2022, 04:08:43 »
Try this, very nice for the price and very similar to original but is plastic instead of steel. The price is right. It has the correct tip and is loaded with quality synthetic grease. I have used these for years. Most likely you can get it at a store near you or you can order it on line. It is made in Germany !
https://www.amazon.com/Oregon-26365-Chainsaw-Grease-Gun/dp/B00004RA7R/ref=asc_df_B00004RA7R?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=79852084166569&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583451663428798&psc=1
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

AdelaidePagoda

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Re: How do you free up doors that stick and are hard to open?
« Reply #15 on: April 26, 2022, 03:31:38 »
Brilliant, this can be sourced locally and I am sure it will come in handy in other locations of the car. Interestingly the squeak is coming from more than one location. The visible door hinge which is easily accessible and the inner door hinge (behind the leather door panel). This is more awkward to address as it is not easily accessible. I will persist with the WD40 as the long straw like nozzle gives me access to that region.
I am not adverse to the squeak, it is part joy of these cars as they reminder tou of their age every time you open and close the door 😀
Thanks Joe!
Dave Cleghorn
January 1964 230SL 4SPD Power Steering
050 050 Black Soft top, Red Leather interior
Italian delivered/ Germany/ Florida/ Boston/ Sydney/ Adelaide (5th owner)

Model S Tesla
Vespa