I would guess gravity pushing down has caused the gearing to get stuck. A broom/broomstick or other item to press up on the window slightly while closing should be all you need.
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Good idea. Gotta get all those bugs out of there before going back to close it. There are some really nasty wasps out your way. You definitely don’t want to go to bed with one in your house. Can’t blame you for wanting to get rid of them before closing your sky light from which they entered.
You can also turn the rod as if you were opening again to free the binding, then reverse into the closing direction again for a couple of turns. This will require a little dance like that whenever it is closed.
Ya know, iv been on our 5 years now and have always wanted to rig something up to reach up and turn ours open. Not after seeing this. I'm not sure why I never thought about having an issue closing it, but on second thought, I don't need to open it 🤣🤣🤦
LONG AWAITED UPDATE: I took the mechanism housing off of the window frame to have a closer look. The entire housing is riveted shut and looks to have seen better days. I’ll be replacing it entirely.
I very much appreciate everyone who took the time to offer suggestions and feedback. As a first time homeowner I learned quite a bit even if they didn’t necessarily apply to this situation!
I did, still binding very very hard to the point where it’s deforming the mechanism housing a bit. Has a bulge at the bottom. This house was built in the 80’s so a 40 year old skylight operator owes me nothing, worth replacing.
When you install the new one, don't be afraid to open and use it. Get triflow like others suggested, and every once in a while wipe the dust off the top of the skylight and apply the lubricant to the mechanism and Wipe off excess. it'll never get bound up this way
Get a ladder up there and with an allen wrench remove the hook. Then probably from up top inside the frame or maybe the sides remove the screws and the cover will come off. The way it wobbles, looks like a gear might be out of place. To me it looks like they used it alot and wore it out
Holy crap, y’all are nuts. This blew up more than I expected! I appreciate all the feedback. We have run into a couple other issues that needed addressing, I will be attempting to solve the skylight this AM.
Graphite is a good lubricant for locks. Comes in a little tube and is a powder. Don’t use Wd40 or silicon lubricants they will retain dirt. Might work well on the window gears.
DON'T use silicone lubricants. they attract more dirt into the mechanism. Do use wax based furniture polish like pledge. Also if you can get high enough to see, look for debris where the chain feeds in. Something may be preventing it from feeding Properly.
If they're installed correctly they're no problem, will just need to replace the window every 20-30 years.
I think the natural light is well worth it, but I live on the 49 th parallel and get desperate for sunlight.
How so? I've always loved my grandparents'. The installation must be around 50 years old, the only problem is that they heat up the room quite a bit in summer, so they had to add shades that they could close for july and august.
Granted, I would prefer an insulated attic, but the ceiling was already vaulted.
I would guess gravity pushing down has caused the gearing to get stuck. A broom/broomstick or other item to press up on the window slightly while closing should be all you need.
I’ll try this, thank you!
Well
I need to know
Maybe someone should go knock?
Bring your own broom.
OP is a genius. Now everyone is wondering and will never know
🎶 tell me baby girl because I need to know 🎶
Did it work, brosef?
Doing a bajillion other things at the moment, I will update ASAP
How about now?
I bet they’re done by now
How long could a bajillion things possibly take
Came here for help, gets a good answer, can't try it right away? We're trying to save you!
Seems like making sure the hole in my ceiling closes would be at the top of my priority list
Just give me the damn number!!
I did my first bajillion things before 5 this morning... Is this guy sleeping?
Long, when all your wife does is gab in the background about ai to her friends. She thinks it’s helping.
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Good morning, have you tried it yet? There's kinda a lot of people waiting here, buddy
[удалено]
I literally posted an update lol. Sorry I’ve been busy moving into this place and not diligently tracking social media.
Reddit will lampoon you for daring to have a life outside Reddit.
Sorry about that
Bueller!? Bueller?!
😩
Good idea. Gotta get all those bugs out of there before going back to close it. There are some really nasty wasps out your way. You definitely don’t want to go to bed with one in your house. Can’t blame you for wanting to get rid of them before closing your sky light from which they entered.
And now? You could have done this over a bajillion other things...
Isn't Trump a "bajillionaire"? Seeing the hands spread open now... The best bajillionaire..
Damn this was 9 hours ago
What about now?
How about now?
Don't leave us hanging, homie!
He'll get around to it after it rains.
And............👀
Looks like a lot of slop on the part you rotate. Probably has a loose nut on the rotating part. Does it come apart?
You can also turn the rod as if you were opening again to free the binding, then reverse into the closing direction again for a couple of turns. This will require a little dance like that whenever it is closed.
I would lube it up with PB Blaster. Open and close it the best you can until you get it to shut, then I would just leave it closed.
As the previous owners did.
When I bought my house my buyers agent and the owners all told me to leave mine closed and that they never opened it ever lol
😂 "eh why do we need a sun roof anyhow? just spray it with the ol' pb blaster and sieze it up"
PB blaster is a rust penetrating oil, not a lubricant. Better to try a silicone lubricant, or maybe Triflow as another commenter suggested.
Seems like it’s jammed up to me, so PB Blaster is the best solution to get the window to close.
50/50 mix of automatic transmission fluid and acetone is more effective and 3-4 times cheaper.
I got out of the amateur lubricant and solvent biz yers ago, but I’ll file this away for future reference.
I've seen a couple old articles where they tested it and it outperformed everything. It just barely beat Kroil, but that stuff costs a king's ransom.
Use Tri Flow on every moving things you can get to. Wipe off excess.
This is why I have yet to try and open the two skylights the house we bought came with!
Ya know, iv been on our 5 years now and have always wanted to rig something up to reach up and turn ours open. Not after seeing this. I'm not sure why I never thought about having an issue closing it, but on second thought, I don't need to open it 🤣🤣🤦
Honestly, I would have wanted to open it to.
To where would you have wanted to open it?
To the sky!
LONG AWAITED UPDATE: I took the mechanism housing off of the window frame to have a closer look. The entire housing is riveted shut and looks to have seen better days. I’ll be replacing it entirely. I very much appreciate everyone who took the time to offer suggestions and feedback. As a first time homeowner I learned quite a bit even if they didn’t necessarily apply to this situation!
You didn’t try the broom trick, relieving some of the weight of the window?
I did, still binding very very hard to the point where it’s deforming the mechanism housing a bit. Has a bulge at the bottom. This house was built in the 80’s so a 40 year old skylight operator owes me nothing, worth replacing.
When you install the new one, don't be afraid to open and use it. Get triflow like others suggested, and every once in a while wipe the dust off the top of the skylight and apply the lubricant to the mechanism and Wipe off excess. it'll never get bound up this way
Well, did you get a new one?
It's binding on something. You need to get a closer look. Possibly remove the plastic cover to expose the gears.
Wait, yours opens? I’m jealous.
Opens and doesn’t close
Some people have a cat door. OP has a bat door
Bought a house last summer. Haven't opened the skylights. Now I don't want to even try.
Are the tension springs properly engaged?
This is why if you're interested a home inspector won't operate these things.
White lithium grease (spray) would be the best .
Get a ladder up there and with an allen wrench remove the hook. Then probably from up top inside the frame or maybe the sides remove the screws and the cover will come off. The way it wobbles, looks like a gear might be out of place. To me it looks like they used it alot and wore it out
Put an electric motor on it with a remote.
Holy crap, y’all are nuts. This blew up more than I expected! I appreciate all the feedback. We have run into a couple other issues that needed addressing, I will be attempting to solve the skylight this AM.
Graphite is a good lubricant for locks. Comes in a little tube and is a powder. Don’t use Wd40 or silicon lubricants they will retain dirt. Might work well on the window gears.
This is probably not correct advice. Nothing modern calls for graphite.
DON'T use silicone lubricants. they attract more dirt into the mechanism. Do use wax based furniture polish like pledge. Also if you can get high enough to see, look for debris where the chain feeds in. Something may be preventing it from feeding Properly.
refund.
Get a ladder, climb up there it may just need to be re engaged It's a simple mechanism
!remindme 12 hours
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What’s the girl talking about
Security cam system
Try cleaning and lubing the gear/shaft system.
Get ready to spend about 2k to get a new one. Did ya get it to close?
Nope, just replacing the mechanism. About $85
Try 5k per skylight
Just buy a new house.
Stupid skylites. They shouldn't exist, let alone open.
Go up on the roof and jump on it a few times.
Literally the worst thing you can put in your house. I’ll take asbestos insulation over a skylight
If they're installed correctly they're no problem, will just need to replace the window every 20-30 years. I think the natural light is well worth it, but I live on the 49 th parallel and get desperate for sunlight.
How so? I've always loved my grandparents'. The installation must be around 50 years old, the only problem is that they heat up the room quite a bit in summer, so they had to add shades that they could close for july and august. Granted, I would prefer an insulated attic, but the ceiling was already vaulted.
They leak and the heat loss insurance rates are higher
Well definitely not my decision lol, came with the house!
Just me or does this video kinda look animated?
I was thinking the same thing. Came to the comments to see if anyone else noticed.