Replies

1. 
   IMERC | Dec 22, 2007 03:28am | #1

   if you are outside.....

   sawzall...

   if you are inside remove the bracket that conects the door to the drive rail... 

    

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

   WOW!!! What a Ride!
   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

2. 
   MSA1 | Dec 22, 2007 03:40am | #2

   I've had that happen with my garage. I have an older opener and am able to overcome the motor by just pulling the door up with a steady slow force.

3. 
   jagwah | Dec 22, 2007 03:40am | #3

   There is a rope dangling from the traveler. Yank it and it will release the chain or drive mechanism allowing you to lift up on the door.

   But a sawzall might be cool to use, as IMERC said.

    

4. 
   junkhound | Dec 22, 2007 03:42am | #4

   Take a grinder, grind the heads off the carriage bolts holding the bracket that attaches to the opener, punch them thru with a hammer and punch, open the door, now you will have spring assist vs. locked by the opening mechanism.

   Your grinder is in the garage?  That is what the $8.99 HF 4" grinders are for<G>, now you will have a spare.

   re:

   pulling the door up with a steady slow force. Good idea if you have a chain drive, start with a crowbar, then put in a car or bottle jack till you can slide under.  (jack in the garage - another purchase from HF<G>

    

   
   

   ---

   Edited 12/21/2007 7:44 pm ET by junkhound

1. 
   MSA1 | Dec 22, 2007 04:55am | #8

   On my garage door there are no carriage bolts coming through the door. The bracket is bolted to the aluminum framing on the inside.

   Guess it depends on the type of door you have.

    

1. 
   junkhound | Dec 22, 2007 06:37am | #10

   Y a ever see a hound dog and a box turtle.

   Dat dog he run aroun' that turtle 10 times and dont know how to get at it.

   Sounds like it's time to drill a hole and do some fishin'

    

5. 
   JTC1 | Dec 22, 2007 04:06am | #5

   First -- are you sure the opener is powered at the moment? Check breaker box.

   Any windows that offer a view of the opener? Check for lights, etc when opener remote is pressed - try keypad if present - cold? change remote / keypad battery.  If all else fails and window present - break window and yank cord to release door.

   All else fails - junkhound's idea sounds pretty good.

   Seriously consider adding another door into the garage - now might be a good time! Start project by cutting a smallish opening from the outside that you can crawl through.......

   Jim

   Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
6. 
   Kgmz | Dec 22, 2007 04:26am | #6

   Who installed this opener without a emergency key release? If you don't have another way to access a garage with a opener, you always install a key release.

   The post about grinding the heads of the bolts would be the best, then install a emegency key release so this doesn't happen again.

   All a emergency key release is a keyed lock on the door that is attached to a cable, that is then attached to the release on your trolley. You turn the key and the whole mechanism pulls out, you then pull on this and it trips the release on the trolley.

7. 
   JeffinPA | Dec 22, 2007 04:37am | #7

   Wow.  Some interesting ideas. I'd pull on the rope hanging down as most of them have that rope as a release. 

   whatever you do, disable the lock before the garage door is back and operational.

   IF you have it locked and hit the button, you will then need a new door and could have just used dynamite to get in in the first place.

   good luck

1. 
   BillHartmann | Dec 22, 2007 07:16am | #12

   Openers have force limits on them. So the door should not be damaged..
   .
   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

1. 
   MattSwanger | Dec 22, 2007 08:03am | #13

   A flat bar would do the trick,  seperate the roller from the track on one panel and you're in.  This is the best way to avoid damage to the track and door sections.   Woods favorite carpenter

   FKA- Stilletto

8. 
   thetigger | Dec 22, 2007 05:54am | #9

   Walt - buy a new battery for the opener BEFORE you tear the garage apart.

   Tigger

9. 
   DanH | Dec 22, 2007 06:56am | #11

   For next time: There's an available accessory that consists of a lockable handle you attach to the front of the door near the top. Unlock the handle and pull and it releases the trolley.

   For now, though, you'll have to grind off the bolt heads as described.

   If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
10. 
    spectrumohd | Dec 02, 2019 03:56pm | #14

    Have you pulled the red cord?
    https://spectrumoverheaddoor.com/

1. 
   Mike_Mahan | Dec 02, 2019 06:11pm | #15

   12 years ago?

11. 
    suburbanguy | Dec 02, 2019 06:51pm | #16

    I wouldn't try prying the door up. Ever taken one of those openers apart? First, they have plastic gears. There is a worm drive on the motor shaft and worm drives act as locks. A worm will drive a pinion but the pinion cannot drive the worm. Anyone who is using this method to open a door is likely moving the chain sprocket or toothed belt pulley on its shaft. (or perhaps the shaft is slipping on the plastic pinion. --and scoring the shaft or wrecking the pinion. It wasn't meant to be forced.
    I'd remove the "jamb" or weatherstripping around the door. You'll be able to see the axles of all of the rollers. Cut the axle of the two lowest track rollers with a Sawzall. The lowest panel will then flip up and inward and you can climb through the space. The rollers are easy to obtain and replace.