Garage Door Problems

[Twista]

My automatic garage door doesn't open. You can hear the motor running, but the chain doesn't move nor the door. I just came back from somewhere and when i left it closed fine.


Problem?

Dec 07, 2008 UPDATE: F or anyone who has done this. It says to test it after you replace the gears. Well, i got everything finished. The opener is still in my house. However, when i press the button. The opener goes in each direction for about 3 seconds than stops.

Is this normal when the opener ins't installed in the garage with the chain and rails.

thanks.

update: Dec, 08, 2007

problem fixed.

 

[jagec]

Often the plastic (yes, plastic) gears in them get worn out. You can buy rebuild kits and fix it yourself if you are handy.

Model?

 

[Twista]

Damn it. Guess i have to recall the repair man. I think something fishy is going on. Just 3 days ago someone taped a "need garage repair ad" on my garage door. And now its broken. LOL WTF?

edit: let me check the model

 

[KK]

no this is something a trained chimp could do.

link

Edit, This is already assembled, much easier.

 

[herrjimbo]

inside the opener is a neoprene (plastic) gear which makes the chain move. if you're mechanically inclined, you should be able to replace it. it would help if you had the owner's manual for the opener.

 

[ICRS]

Many garages use a metal spring on top. It is large metal coil, it is found on older style metalic automatic garage doors. This will often snap in half under pressure. Check if it looks like it is borken in two.

 

[Twista]

Originally posted by: ICRS
Many garages use a metal spring on top. It is large metal coil, it is found on older style metalic automatic garage doors. This will often snap in half under pressure. Check if it looks like it is borken in two.

That big spring above the door itself is fine from what i can see. But from the links the other ATOT'ers posted seems about right =[

 

[KK]

If it's like mine, if you got a ladder and a screw driver you can change it out. Just loosen the chain that goes out to the actual door, there should be an inline chain tension device you can loosen. Then take a few of the screws of that will open up the garage door opener, then you should see that gear thingy and if its bad you will have alot of shredded white gear stuff. Just blow it out, and there is like 4 screws that hold the gear thingy on,take it off and replaced with the new one. button the thing back up, put the chain back on and tighten it, you're back in business.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Twista
My automatic garage door doesn't open. You can hear the motor running, but the chain doesn't move nor the door. I just came back from somewhere and when i left it closed fine.


Problem?

Doesn't sound like it.

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: Twista
My automatic garage door doesn't open. You can hear the motor running, but the chain doesn't move nor the door. I just came back from somewhere and when i left it closed fine.


Problem?

Nope, it's working fine.

 

[Twista]

Originally posted by: KK
no this is something a trained chimp could do.

link

Edit, This is already assembled, much easier.

thank you.


thanks all

 

[BoomerD]

Any possibility someone pulled the release cord?

 

[Twista]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Any possibility someone pulled the release cord?

Nope, i already pulled it and re latched it =[ Same thing. So, i have to open it manually now and close it. Next paycheck ill buy this kit that was mentioned above.


thanks

 

[Twista]

Dec 07, 2008 UPDATE: F or anyone who has done this. It says to test it after you replace the gears. Well, i got everything finished. The opener is still in my house. However, when i press the button. The opener goes in each direction for about 3 seconds than stops.

Is this normal when the opener ins't installed in the garage with the chain and rails.

thanks.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: Twista

Dec 07, 2008 UPDATE: F or anyone who has done this. It says to test it after you replace the gears. Well, i got everything finished. The opener is still in my house. However, when i press the button. The opener goes in each direction for about 3 seconds than stops.

Is this normal when the opener ins't installed in the garage with the chain and rails.

thanks.

Say that again. I don't follow. You replaced the gears, but now when you press the button, it travels one direction for 3 seconds, then goes the opposite direction for 3 seconds then stops?

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: Twista

Dec 07, 2008 UPDATE: F or anyone who has done this. It says to test it after you replace the gears. Well, i got everything finished. The opener is still in my house. However, when i press the button. The opener goes in each direction for about 3 seconds than stops.

Is this normal when the opener ins't installed in the garage with the chain and rails.

thanks.

Okay, my wife is sitting right here next to me. She manages a garage door company. Does your door have electric eyes? If so, that is the reason it's doing what it's doing. Without the eyes hooked up, it will not work properly. Also, she says to be sure to pack those gears completely with grease or you will be doing this job over in about two weeks.

 

[Twista]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: Twista

Dec 07, 2008 UPDATE: F or anyone who has done this. It says to test it after you replace the gears. Well, i got everything finished. The opener is still in my house. However, when i press the button. The opener goes in each direction for about 3 seconds than stops.

Is this normal when the opener ins't installed in the garage with the chain and rails.

thanks.

Say that again. I don't follow. You replaced the gears, but now when you press the button, it travels one direction for 3 seconds, then goes the opposite direction for 3 seconds then stops?

boomerang- im going to reinstall this in the garage.

Ill report back with my results.

 

[Twista]

Well its all back on, but i have no idea if it works or not. It didnt open and its making a buzzing noise like something else is broke. im just going to buy a cheap $100 opener from home depot and get someone to install it. I cant deal with this in very cold weather.

thanks ATOT

 

[herrjimbo]

there's 2 adjusting screws on the back of the unit. one is for how far the chain travels, and the other is for how much pressure is applied.

i would try adjusting before i bought a new one.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: Twista
Well its all back on, but i have no idea if it works or not. It didnt open and its making a buzzing noise like something else is broke. im just going to buy a cheap $100 opener from home depot and get someone to install it. I cant deal with this in very cold weather.

thanks ATOT

Have you got a garage door company in the area? A service call will be cheaper than a new opener and an install.

 

[Twista]

Originally posted by: boomerang

Originally posted by: Twista
Well its all back on, but i have no idea if it works or not. It didnt open and its making a buzzing noise like something else is broke. im just going to buy a cheap $100 opener from home depot and get someone to install it. I cant deal with this in very cold weather.

thanks ATOT

Have you got a garage door company in the area? A service call will be cheaper than a new opener and an install.

Yep, thats what im doing. I have 3 choices.

1. The person i brought the new gear from on Ebay has a company. Its in the same state as me and the package from him got me in less than 20 hours so its close.


2. 5 Days before my garage broke someone put an AD on my garage door about repairs.

3. On the garage door itself it says, "Door installed by.. and phone #" .

i will call one of them tomorrow

 

[Twista]

Just called the repair people. There coming out within the hour. Ill report back the problems.

 

[Papagayo]

What I would do it troubleshoot to see what's broken. Unlatch the opener and see if the garage door opens and closes easily. They have spring that makes it easy to open. 2nd, check the sensors. There are 2 sensors on the trac to know when the door is closed all the way and opened all the say. Also there are sensors that are near the bottom on both side to make sure that there are no obstructions. 3rd, when you said it runs for 3 seconds and stops, does the door tries to open? I thinkthere are 3 types I believe (belt, chain, screw).. they might be broken or the opener motor is broken. If you tried it multiple times, it might shut down for a while, because of overheating.

 

[Twista]

Originally posted by: Papagayo
What I would do it troubleshoot to see what's broken. Unlatch the opener and see if the garage door opens and closes easily. They have spring that makes it easy to open. 2nd, check the sensors. There are 2 sensors on the trac to know when the door is closed all the way and opened all the say. Also there are sensors that are near the bottom on both side to make sure that there are no obstructions. 3rd, when you said it runs for 3 seconds and stops, does the door tries to open? I thinkthere are 3 types I believe (belt, chain, screw).. they might be broken or the opener motor is broken. If you tried it multiple times, it might shut down for a while, because of overheating.

Im confused with this. Ill just let the pro handle this. For one i only have 1 obstruction sensor. Its hanging by its wires like someone ghetto rigged it to work. The door has been working fine for 2 years.


Still waiting on the pro

 

[SpiderWiz]

Originally posted by: ICRS
Many garages use a metal spring on top. It is large metal coil, it is found on older style metalic automatic garage doors. This will often snap in half under pressure. Check if it looks like it is borken in two.

This.

On Friday, I had to get the springs replaced on my garage door. Same thing was OP described. I looked up in the middle of the door and saw the broken springs. I was quoted $169 but only paid $150 (cash discount.) Price was to replace both springs, only one was broken.

Good luck OP.