Another Overhead door problem.

TimWafer · Nov 30, 2019

I have a 12 overhead door on my polebarn. It has the coil type torsion springs and an opener that drives off the rod the springs are on. So it lifts the door by the cables attached to that rod and the door bottom. Hopefully you understand what I mean there.

Lately the problem has arose that when closing , the opener starts to turn the rod but the door hesitates to start rolling down immediately and so the cable spools off the pulley, gets tangled and causes problems. Sometimes very bad problems!

I ve tried adjusting the door so it doesn t go up quit as far and that helped some but it still is hesitating. Cant go too much more or I will have clearance problems with some equipment.

I ve checked the track and rollers and cant really see anything binding. It doesn t take much to get it moving, just a push of a finger. I m thinking maybe if I raise the tail end of the track so its at more of an angle it might start to roll closed faster. My other idea is to rig up a spring somehow to give it a push down for the first few inches to get it started. Then it seems fine.

Any other ideas?

Jaden · Nov 30, 2019

Have you tried cleaning and lubing all the rollers?

jeffcat · Nov 30, 2019

Just my little fix. In the shop up at the farm I took some drain oil and oiled
all of the rollers. Must have been one or two were sticky. Also had a slight
twist in one track. A little monkey wrench reverse twisting fixed it.

Vicinalvictor · Nov 30, 2019

I think those springs just wear out and have to replaced, they're not cheap. A friend of mine has a problem with his after
about 20-25 years.

Steve@Advance · Nov 30, 2019

Yes, do raise the tail end of the tracks. It needs some downward weight to get it moving without backlashing the cables.

Try removing the chain and hand cycling the door. It should always have "some" down tension on the cables, especially when it is in the full open position. If the cables tend to go slack when the door is all the way up, the springs will need to be tightened slightly.

Also look at the rollers, be sure they are all turning easily, no bad bearings. Be sure the door is centered between the tracks and not dragging against the track. If the door tends to shift to one side, it may be necessary to add spacers (small hose clamps) to some of the rollers to keep it centered.

Try removing the chain and hand cycling the door. It should always have "some" down tension on the cables, especially when it is in the full open position.

Dave BN · Nov 30, 2019

Does the opener work/travel ok without the door attached?
I take it you have a 12' door not 12 doors as I read your post the first
time.
I HATE openers! Good luck.
Dave

Russ from MN · Nov 30, 2019

I agree with others, raise the end of the track a little and oil all the rollers, and make sure the door works smoothly without the opener.

fixerupper · Nov 30, 2019

Just a wild suggestion here; does your opener have the soft start feature where it starts slowly then picks up speed? If so it might be starting too fast. Also, the torsion springs do need to be lubed once in awhile but I don't know how lubing the springs would help you in this situation.

The first opener on my 16wx12H shop door was an old T rail chain type opener from a standard garage door that I rigged up with sprockets to turn the torsion bar. It worked but was not a soft start or stop so I had to set the door so it was not completely up to keep a pull on the cables when it stopped. I rarely need the full 12' height of the door so it worked out OK for me. I seem to remember if I had the door putting too much down pressure on the torsion bar the opener would free wheel backwards making the limit switch jerk the door back up again. You are right about making a big mess when the cable slacks and comes off the spool.

quefan · Nov 30, 2019

Google "garage door pusher springs"
Sorry could not get link setup on my
mobile.
And yes straight and lubed definitely helps

gene bender · Nov 30, 2019

tension on the cable needs to be set. Pay someone who knows how to do that as you have admitted you don't know it can be dangerous.

TimWafer · Nov 30, 2019

OK, Ill try lubing all the rollers first and disconnect the opener and test out the door itself more. It should be fairly easy to raise the tail of the track so might do that as well. Yes it is just one 12 foot door. I looked up the pusher springs and that is just what I was thing along the lines of. Didn't know they were ready made. Thanks!

old · Nov 30, 2019

Back when I worked at tracker marine I had to work on the doors all the time.
Make sure the little wheels that run in the track are spinning as they should and also lube the tracker it self. All it takes is a locked up wheel to cause problems. Also if ti seem that one side is getting lower then the other side the springs them self maybe out of adjustment or the springs need to be lubed. The tension springs need to be able to move and if rusty they tend to stick and cause problems

TimWafer · Nov 30, 2019

I did?

WGM · Nov 30, 2019

Believe it or not there are people out there that do
repairs on overhead doors. Anyone with no door
experience will wish they hired a professional once
they get tangled in a spring.

Geo-TH,In · Nov 30, 2019

You mean you can hire someone to install a garage door?

old · Nov 30, 2019

Yes those springs can be come deadly in a heart beat. Seen more then one time where we where winding up a spring and some one slipped and there went the rod we where using to wind it up and if that rod hit a person it could be deadly

TimWafer · Nov 30, 2019

I just dont know where I indicated that i didn't know the springs or doors could be dangerous. In my mind I was saying just the opposite. Sometimes I guess its hard to convey ones true intentions in print. Ive installed a couple dozen doors in my lifetime including this one and it has worked fine for the last 13 years. I don't have much experience with this type of opener but did understand what was happening and the danger it presented. Thats why I wanted to do something about it before someone got hurt. I appreciate the lead on the door pusher springs and I ordered a set. Saves me from reinventing the wheel. Im also going to raise the tail of the tracks and recheck everything again for binding. Thanks to everyone for their help.

pinball · Nov 30, 2019

I had a problem with my garage door sometimes would close partway then open back up. finally called the garage door man. he came out took one look and said the spring was broke. I sure didn't see it but when I watched them remove it sure enough it was broke. they installed new spring. adjusted it and sprayed spme sort of a silicone one it. I asked him about lubrication and he said not to do that. call the people who put your door up. a lot safer that way

caterpillar guy · Dec 1, 2019

Just tie a rope on it pull as you start it down. Dads is the same way and no room to raise the track. I just pull the rope as I push the button for down. Keeps the cables from tangling.

Another Overhead door problem.

TimWafer

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Jaden

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jeffcat

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Vicinalvictor

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Steve@Advance

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Dave BN

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Russ from MN

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fixerupper

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quefan

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gene bender

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TimWafer

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old

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TimWafer

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WGM

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Geo-TH,In

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old

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TimWafer

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pinball

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caterpillar guy

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