Garage Door Lock, ain’t never seen this before

[gahrajmahal]

Nothing bizarre or out of order, I’ve just never had one apart to see how it works! A few months ago I lubed the door lock because it was making that “fingernail on the blackboard” screech I’m sure you have all heard. Immediately, smooth effortless door locking on the non-electric garage door opening side of our two car garage.

Then, the other day, I pull the smooth and quiet latch to open the door and out it pops into my hand. WTH?

In all my years I’ve never had cause to take one of these mechanisms apart, but I knew by operating it it had a catch keeping it from sliding all the way out, plus it seemed to have some sort of device keeping it in the open and closed positions. Well, with the attached photographs, the secret is out of the bag! Kind of like the first time you take the tank cover off on the back of a toilet and watch it flush and refill.

 

[Hooked]

I don't think any of ours have ever been used.

 

[Sumboodie]

I don't think any of ours have ever been used.

Mine do just to keep the doors down. The wind lifts them up after a while.

 

[Rc_Guy]

I don't think any of ours have ever been used.

Ours either, in fact I put a self taping screw in it in the open position so nobody slides it shut.

 

[NUTTSGT]

When I bought them for my garage doors. I saw what was inside and thought to myself...pretty damn simple design.

 

[The Cobbler]

they are very common when no opener or outside key is used . and yes, very simple & effective .

 

[bbxlr8]

I like those as an extra precaution step when I am gone for a while (like on vacation etc).
Have openers and they prevent the ole wire hanger trick of grabbing the release cord from the top center...

Back to the fact that if someone has the time and motivation, they can get in anyway.
Never opened one.

 

[OccupantRJ]

When I insulated my shop door months back a second lock got added for a bit more security, and I operate the door manually. If the building was used as a parking garage I would have an opener, but not for a working shop that is inside a fence in the back yard for me. I do dislike the screech though. It looks like it would be a good 3d print project to make a couple of snap in rectangular plastic glide bushings. If I could clamp my younger son down long enough from his midlife new sweetie and scuba diving adventures I might could get some bushings. If.

 

[driftpin]

Hooray for the electric solenoid lock.

The satisfying thunk! they make closing reassures me that it will take a lot of noise to overcome one of those. The Liftmaster side of the door bellcrank is now 10 years on and I use spray lube when the clock changes, spring/fall.

 

[OccupantRJ]

The latches are usually also easily reversible for mirror image right and left by switching the slider inside the housing.

 

[gahrajmahal]

The screw holding on the spring tab/stop fell out. That’s how the handle was able to slip out of the housing.

 

[firebirdparts]

High tech stuff there. I use them every day - my shop is so equipped.

 

[The Cobbler]

The latches are usually also easily reversible for mirror image right and left by switching the slider inside the housing.

actually you just turn them over

 

[Michael B.]

It also appears that the depth of engagement is adjustable.

 

[Rc_Guy]

It also appears that the depth of engagement is adjustable.

Unless you drink too much.

 

[Hooked]

I like those as an extra precaution step when I am gone for a while (like on vacation etc).
Have openers and they prevent the ole wire hanger trick of grabbing the release cord from the top center...

Back to the fact that if someone has the time and motivation, they can get in anyway.
Never opened one.

What are these release cords you speak of? I got tired of dodging them.

 

[OccupantRJ]

actually you just turn them over

Not symmetrical like that. This is GJ.

 

[Gutman]

...and out it pops into my hand. WTH?

Same reason for me to open one up.

I too was amazed at the simplicity of that design.

About that same time, I was fighting issues with the opener for the one door that had it, and I decided to just decommision it in place since the door wasn't hard to open manually.

That door did not have the sliding bar, but it had the spring and retainer, so I bent some 1/8" flat bar I had onhand, and voila. Back in business. I keep reminding myself that I need to upgrade it to 3/16" now that I have some, but someday.

 

[ronr80]

I think they are great , when I go away for vacation or whatever ,I unplug my electric opener and push this lock on , safety for sure.

 

[wolfhawk73]

Damn. I thought they'd be WAY more complicated than that.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

On our lake garage the installer said not to install with a door opener. Supposedly if in lock position and you use the electric opener you can do some damage the opener.

 

[zimman]

they are very common when no opener or outside key is used . and yes, very simple & effective .

I'm buying two in about 32 minutes. Can't stand walking around the garage and locking from the outside. At 21:30 there are bears, lions and deadly racoons wandering around. I'm armed, but those racoons put up a good fight. LMAO
Zim

 

[racecougar]

I'm buying two in about 32 minutes. Can't stand walking around the garage and locking from the outside. At 21:30 there are bears, lions and deadly racoons wandering around. I'm armed, but those racoons put up a good fight. LMAO
Zim

The armadillos are the ones to watch out for.

 

[nadogail]

Garage Door Locks like that seem to be on every sectional door I have seen.

 

[Mainiac Mat]

That manual latch design has been around for eons... but it didn't come with my OHDs when I built my COVID garage. So I purchased them online and installed myself. I find them very handy when:

1. we go away on vacation.
2. we lose power and have to release the automatic openers to open & close the doors.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Like I mentioned above, I have them for the doors on my garage, 3 Doors and 2 locks on each door. I have a wood wedge in each lock to hold the door tight against the frame/seal...works great to keep that extra cold air out in the winter or doors from rattling when it's windy.





For those that were reading and expecting a 3 doors down joke in there. . . .

 

[Rc_Guy]

What are these release cords you speak of? I got tired of dodging them.

You don’t have to dodge them if you cut them a little shorter.

I sure liked having it when the power went out two weeks ago so I could at least get the side-by-side out

On our lake garage the installer said not to install with a door opener. Supposedly if in lock position and you use the electric opener you can do some damage the opener.

You think?

 

[lolaetype]

I think they are great , when I go away for vacation or whatever ,I unplug my electric opener and push this lock on , safety for sure.

Our Lift Master garage door openers have three button wall controls. One opens and closes the door, one turns the light on and off and the third locks out signals from remote devices but still allows the wall button to open and close the door. I've also used the track lock to secure the door when we're gone.