An improved method and apparatus for by-product coke oven operation wherein the problems of pollution caused by gases leaking out of the oven during the coking cycle are eliminated by providing an improved coke oven door using the metal-to-metal contact principle. Because of thermal conditions the distortion of the jambs and the distortion of the doors themselves takes place thus making the sealing of coke oven doors very difficult; this in particular is very serious with respect to high ovens. This distortion being of such form that the distortion of the jamb occurs in the opposite direction of the distortion of the oven door. This invention compensates for such distortion and makes possible the proper fit up of the door to a particular jamb irrespective of the degree of distortion.