How to fix a sprung door (jack and chain method)

[Big T]

I know this is on here but it took me forever to find pictures so I thought I'd post a few. Maybe it will be easier to find for the next guy. This method works pretty good if you spend a little time to get it right. I've read that you can flip your door over and hook the chain to the edges of the door if you need to bend it out. I didn't invent this method, I just used it to fix my problem.

[Big T]

An after thought, I made a cardboard template of my tank so I wouldn't have to keep picking up the door every time I tweeked it. My door is 3/8'' thick so it was a pain to pick it up by myself .I bent it to fit the template and when I sat it up there it was as close as I felt I could get it. Hope this helps somebody else.

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

Awesome tip. I'm sure several people will be using this trick.

[Smokeone]

Nice T!

[Frank_Cox]

awesome! now it is a sticky!

[Big T]

Thanks guys ! I know it helped me out a lot.

[ACC]

How big of a jack do I need? My neighbor's 2.5 ton is not getting the job done and I am afraid I will break it.

I have reached a point where I can pump the jack (very difficult) but the jack is not rising.

[Big T]

I used a 20 ton floor jack but I wasn't able to get it perfect.

[Dirtytires]

Mine is a measly 1/4".....(I know, too flimsy for some of the locals here!) but a 20 ton bottle jack worked great with mine. I would think the 2.5 ton might be a bit underpowered.

[SAFETYHARBORREDNECK]

DO IT THE RIGHT WAY!!!
ALWAYS CUT ALL BUT CORNERS(LEAVE ABOUT 1" UNCUT ON EITHER SIDE OF CORNERS).LET COOL OVERNIGHT.
THEN FINISH CUTTING CORNERS OUT.
IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH HEAT.IF IT'S COOL,IT WON'T WARP ON YOU!!!

[Frank_Cox]

hahaha

[mp4]

Heat is one factor - the other is the process of rolling the original barrel. It may have had to be squeezed together to weld it up from the factory and then springs open as soon as it is cut open.

[Pete Mazz]

[ACC]

Heat is one factor - the other is the process of rolling the original barrel. It may have had to be squeezed together to weld it up from the factory and then springs open as soon as it is cut open.

This is what sprung my door out. While making the first cut along the top of the CC, there was a loud pop and the seam opened up a bit. I welded hinges across the cut (while the other 3 sides remain uncut) but the door still sprung out of round. That is, the curvature of the door did not match the curvature of the pipe. The pipe was made in Korea.

A 20 ton bottle jack and strategic blows with an 8 lb. sledge got it back into shape. The 2.5 ton jack curved the door some but just did not have enough muscle to bend the door all the way needed.

If you already have inside flanges installed, make sure that they are not interfering when you are re-fitting the door. A hammer works well on adjusting the inside flanges. Inside flanges are great for holding up the door while you are re-fitting it. Would have been extremely difficult to re-work the door without them.

[h2orescuemedic]

Doing some research before I cut my doors and you guys got me thinking, What about if some poor guy made 2 small straps to weld from the top of the door to the bottom of the door on the inside, and climbed in the tank welded them in place before you cut the doors out. I have the end of my tank cut off and the end is open Would be easy to measure to get close to were they need to be. Wouldn't take much to keep the door from opening up.

any thoughts?

[Big T]

The thing about doing that is that you would have to cut straps loose and the door could spring if it is under stress. Now if it was only going to move because of the heat from cutting the door then it would work just fine. I remember seeing TQ brace the inside of his tanks while he was building them cabinet style so they couldn't move on him. I'm not saying that you shouldn't try it or that it won't work , these are just my thoughts on it.

[Sfwchef]

Had the same thing happen to me. As I was cutting it popped. I left 4 corners attached and it sat for 2 days.... mainly due to work. I attached the hinges and it was definitely out of round. Jack and chain method worked to get it back on shape. Mine is a tank made in the USA. So heat isn't always a factor. IMHO

[Olibinoui]

Thank you for these useful methods!

[EasyD]

Thanks for posting those pics, Iv heard of the jack and chain method but never seen it....this is very helpfull.