Unlock garage door

[tpierce]

We are at our cabin, and I left the key to the garage door at home 60 miles away. I need some ideas on how to unlock it without key. It does not have an opener, just the standard twist handle with flat bars. I don't mind ruining the lock if necessary.
I need to get my 4 wheeler out to set deer stands.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Man door or overhead door ?



Edit, ahhh opener, must be overhead door.


If you are posting here, you must have internet. Try searching on Youtube, there used to able a few videos on how to get in.

 

[Fly320s]

Look for a spare key you left there. If none, hide a spare key for future use.

Is your son/daughter/wife/friend coming to visit? Have one of them bring the key.

Pick the lock.

Go through a window.

Locksmith.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Remove the two screws that hold the handle to the door, then twist to open like usual.

 

[MikeF2316]

When I moved in, my detached garage had neither a man door nor an opener. Sure enough, the link that went from the twist handle to the cable that pulled on the side latches to release them disconnected. I made wire hooks out of coat hanger suitably bent so they could go under the door and hook onto the cable. Pull on the coat hangers, and in you get. Not a fun way to spend a couple of hours though.

 

[ezover]

try pulling hard on the bottom of the door, you mite get enough flex that it releases. we use to do that on the garage door when we were kids.

 

[Jlbc212]

If you have neighbors nearby with a similar garage door, their key may work on yours. Or try using a pair of vise grips to grab onto the outer edge of the lock cylinder and twist the whole cylinder. If that doesn't work, place a large pry bar under the bottom edge of the door and force it up.

 

[In The Doghouse]

Coat hanger through the top to grab and release the door from the opener chain. You can find it on Youtube. That is why I did not put the pull knob on the bottom of my pull ropes.

 

[egdede]

OP said NO opener.

 

[larry_g]

Coat hanger through the top to grab and release the door from the opener chain. You can find it on Youtube. That is why I did not put the pull knob on the bottom of my pull ropes.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=370058

lg
no neat sig line

 

[CJ7VFR]

Maybe have your wife go back home and get the key while you stay there and try to get things as ready as you can without the use of the 4 wheeler?

Is the only access to the garage thru the garage door? I would assume so, since you didn't reply to the other post about a man door.

Jim

 

[Doorguy]

I have been able to do it before by removing the side weatherstrip and using a thin screwdriver to push the spring latch open while another person gently lifts on the t handle.

 

[Lassen Forge]

The best way is to try to pick the lock, or see if another key will open it (sometimes this works)... otherwise, the drive back will cost a lot less than the damage you'll likely do to the door or lock, which you'll then have to fix to keep honest people honest before you leave...

Seriously - a 120 mile round trip drive back to get the key is a pain in the ****, but compared to replacing your door lock, and maybe replacing a door panel and track, just to get it opened, you're probably looking at less time, and I KNOW you're looking at less $$$...

 

[kbs2244]

I second the idea of going home and getting TWO keys.
Try them both and then hide one in the cabin.

 

[phy6]

If you drill it out or pay a locksmith, are you going to be able to lock the place up when you leave? Seems like you'd have no way to secure all entrances if you're going to defeat one without a key.

Make the round trip, and use that memory to make sure it never happens again. It's just gas and time.

 

[Lassen Forge]

SO, nosy minds want to know - what did you end up doing?

 

[Richard Cranium]

most older locks are very easy to open.
I even picked the door lock on our new motor home after wife locked the keys in side. Took longer to get the stuff I needed then to open the lock.

 

[Brian_WK]

Did you find a large rock or hammer?

Brian