This is not a building question as such, but I will bet there are some of you with suggestions or experience with this problem.
I have an automatic garage door opener. Surprised, right? LOL. Anyway, when I push the buttom to lower the door the door goes all the way down. I watch the rod on which the chain follows and the rod flexs upwards a bit and then the door automatically goes up again. It flexs as if the opener is trying to shove the bottom of the door into the concrete. (get the picture?) I don’t know if my old opener has an automatic feature which detects obstructions, but the action of the door is something like what I would expect from such a feature.
A bit more information: This happened for a few days in a row back several months ago, and then just starting functioning properly again. Now the problem is back. I don’t recall whether the first occurance of this problem was also in cold weather or not and don’t know whether teh issue is cold related or not.
Is this an issue which I can make adjustments to fix? If so what?
I have one idea, but if someone knows a sure fix (not buying a new one) let me know.
Replies
Well, best to start with the owner's manual. Instructions for making the adjustments are in there.
There are typically four adjustments on an automatic opener. One adjusts the stopping point going down, another going up. A third adjustment alters the downward force and the fourth the upward force. If the up or down forces are exceeded the door either stops or reverses.
Sounds like from what you describe the door is trying to go too far down. I would start with adjusting the down position setting. The screws are not too sensitive so it may take several turns of the screw for the change to be large enough to see. You can always back off if you've gone too far.
The original adjustment might have been on the hairy edge, and slight wear, drift on the electronic circuit, or change in temperature may have pushed it too far. I'll bet it's an easy fix.
Thanks Wayne,
Time for a little shock and awe for the wife, right? LOL!! She was not too happy having to manually open the door this moroning.
I was guessing it would likely be a simple fix, but before I braved the 0 degree weather today and just began fittling I thought I would ask someone.
NOw off to find the manual. Open I have one.
At 0º You might think of a bit of lube upon the springs.Mine was doing similar strange things and that cured it
Bud
There is a contact on the slide that opens the circuit and turns off the motor. There should be a contact on the track the slides runs on. Sometimes the contact works loose and is pushed toward the door and you may have to reset it to eliminate the problem.
"There is a contact on the slide that opens the circuit and turns off the motor. There should be a contact on the track the slides runs on."Depends on the brand and model.I have worked on a couple of different ones and none had that type of design.One had has a cam that road up and down on threaded shaft within the opener. That cam would hit a reversing switch.Another had a bat handle togle switch and a stops that where clamped on the chain. When they came by the flipped the toggle switch.Both of those where old units 20-15 YO.One of the newer ones has a screw driver adjustment on it and I have not had any need to look inside the box to see what it does.Another has a digital adjustment.
Thanks for all the kind and helpful reponses. Usually here on breaktime someone will, say "hey bonehead" or "that's why they have professionals". LOL!
Thanks again for the kind replys.
As the third owner of this house and thus the opener, no manual was to be found. I was able to fit the safety limit adjustments and made one-half turn and all seems well.
I figured it would be simple, but I just was not interested in wasting any time in my garage at zero to ten above.
PS - maybe you can find the book on the web or something.
I believe Wayne's diagnosis is probably correct. If your opener is like mine, it has two adjustment knobs on the bottom that are clearly labeled for open and close travel limits, so even if you can't find the owner's manual you can probably figure it out.
If you live where it's cold, make sure there isn't any snow or ice piled up underneath where the door goes - if there is, it could be causing the problem.
Edited 12/10/2005 6:55 pm ET by Stuart
Like has been said, there are normally several adjustments to be made. I'd like to add that getting these adjustments right can be tricky since they interact with each other, and I definitely wouldn't want to try one without the owners manual unless I was already familiar with that particular model. Mine has 4 adjustments that required small flathead screwdriver and some patients. This can be a safety issue too as you wouldn't want a small child or pet to be crushed by the door.