Garage Door Opener Problems

**cycloneworld** · 02-01-2012, 08:37 AM

I've been having problems with my Craftsman garage door opener lately. First, the door wouldn't close completely...it would go down a foot and then come right back up. So I adjusted the screws on the unit per some things I read online and that worked for a few weeks. It started doing it again a couple of days ago, so I adjusted the screws again (and I think I adjusted them way too much) and couldn't get the door to close. And now, the motor hums twice but the door does not move. Door works smoothly manually.

I've read some things online but nothing seems to match what's happening with my door.

Anyone know anything about these things? Next step is to call someone but I know they'll charge $80 just to come out and look at it when a brand new opener is $200.

**Cyclonepride** · 02-01-2012, 08:41 AM

Had some problems with mine a while back- first, check to make sure the safety sensors are clear and lined up. Mine had some problems, and then stripped the gear. You'll know if it is that, as there will be white plastic shavings all over inside. I changed mine and it was pretty simple.

**BCClone** · 02-01-2012, 08:46 AM

Screw or chain drive?

**cycloneworld** · 02-01-2012, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by Cyclonepride

Had some problems with mine a while back- first, check to make sure the safety sensors are clear and lined up. Mine had some problems, and then stripped the gear. You'll know if it is that, as there will be white plastic shavings all over inside. I changed mine and it was pretty simple.

Yeah, I should have mentioned that the sensors are just fine (already checked them) and the gear is not stripped.

Originally Posted by BCClone

Screw or chain drive?

Chain drive. It's about 10 years old.

**BCClone** · 02-01-2012, 08:58 AM

Can be the manual trip is tripped. Sounds like you know what this is but would check that first. Second, the stops could be out of whack. I had a chain drive do this and it would cycle for a short time and not do anything. Follow the catches (chain stops) and see if they seem to run the right way.

The trip latch block may be stripped out, everyone is a little different so its hard to say.

An idea on what is causing this to happen is the warm/cold weather. Your door may be getting iced down a bit and the chain stills moves while its trying to lift the door. This will cause it to get out of whack; doesn't happen with screw drives. If you hear a large pop and the door lifts that is it.

**ripvdub** · 02-01-2012, 09:48 AM

My garage door is slamming to a stop halfway up, going down is no problem. it only does it in the winter, any ideas? Screw drive. I have to double tap it once it stops to go all the way up. The latch that connects the door and the chain pops into the air then comes back down

**Storkenheimer** · 02-01-2012, 09:53 AM

My craftsman opener shredded a plastic gear inside a couple years ago and quit working. I had to replace it.

**BCClone** · 02-01-2012, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by ripvdub

My garage door is slamming to a stop halfway up, going down is no problem. it only does it in the winter, any ideas? Screw drive. I have to double tap it once it stops to go all the way up. The latch that connects the door and the chain pops into the air then comes back down

My screw drive does the same thing intermittingly. Does it once (every so often, winter is worse) and is fine the second time. Had it looked at when a spring broke, of course it wouldn't do it then, and they couldn't find anything.

The latch jumping is what could be your problem. The block in that (usaually plastic) could be worn and catches, this would cause the latch to catch momentarily, stop the door, and when it "jumps" it frees itself and is fine then.

**ripvdub** · 02-01-2012, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by BCClone

My screw drive does the same thing intermittingly. Does it once (every so often, winter is worse) and is fine the second time. Had it looked at when a spring broke, of course it wouldn't do it then, and they couldn't find anything.

The latch jumping is what could be your problem. The block in that (usaually plastic) could be worn and catches, this would cause the latch to catch momentarily, stop the door, and when it "jumps" it frees itself and is fine then.

Thanks, ill mess with that and see if that is it.

**clonehenge** · 02-01-2012, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Storkenheimer

My craftsman opener shredded a plastic gear inside a couple years ago and quit working. I had to replace it.

I'd bet this is the culprit...ironically one of my openers just had the same problem...

Take the cover off your opener and if you see a bunch of plastic "snow" that's your problem...you'll also notice that the gear teeth are basically concave...

You can order the entire gear kit for $19.99 on Amazon...pretty easy to fix...hardest part is taking the old gear assembly out...but there are pretty good instructions on the interwebs...

I can tell you the eaxct part # or give you a link to the kit if you need it...

**cycloneworld** · 02-01-2012, 01:11 PM

Update: there is a little "snow" inside but not much. It's like the motor is frozen...I push the button and it buzzes like it wants to move but nothing happens. It tries twice and then stops.

Manual pull isn't the problem as the chain is engaged in the track.

**BCClone** · 02-01-2012, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by cycloneworld

Update: there is a little "snow" inside but not much. It's like the motor is frozen...I push the button and it buzzes like it wants to move but nothing happens. It tries twice and then stops.

Manual pull isn't the problem as the chain is engaged in the track.

Sounds like time for a new one. Cheaper to buy new than repair.

**cycloneworld** · 02-01-2012, 01:32 PM

Thats kinda what I was thinking. The date on this one is 1998...what is the typical life.

Any recommendations for a new one? Are they easy to install?

**BCClone** · 02-01-2012, 01:40 PM

Am thinking 10-15 years nowadays. For ease I would go with a similar opener. You can just do it piece by piece and that would be very easy.

Other option is to spend that 200 bucks on some weights for your wife. Tell her you think she put some Xmas weight on and you are concerned for her health. It will be good exercise for her. After the divorce, you won't be living there anyhow.

**SwirlingFloater** · 02-01-2012, 01:57 PM

We had this guy fix ours this past summer when we experienced the same thing on our 12 year old house. We had just bought the house so our home warranty covered it, but he replaced the bad sprocket, adjusted and lubed everything in about 30 minutes. Not sure but I doubt the bill would have been over $100 if the warranty wasn't covering it.

Door Doctor
2316 SE Clover Ridge Ct, Ankeny, IA 50021
(515) 279-3667