Added: Feb 20, 2012
From: moccina
Duration: 11:4
If your garage door opener has recently failed, or if your door slams shut when disengaged from the opener, you need to watch this video. Many people don't understand the fact that it is the extension springs that do 90% of the work opening / closing your garage door, and if these springs are defective and or worn out,-- they need to be replaced. If you do not inspect and or replace these before installing a new opener, you may end up burning the motor out on the new unit.
Channel: Howto
Tags: garage door slams shut not working properly new opener extension springs damaged stretched faulty worn out need overhead tutorial step by diy do it yourself save money fix rather than buying craftsman 1/2 horsepower chamberlain chain drive operner whisper quiet remote belt 40 years old house repair
Rating: 5.0' max='5' min='1' numRaters='4' rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#overall ( ratings) Views: 1721 Comments: 16
NicksGarageDoor Says:
Apr 20, 2012 - Great job! What kind of opener did you get?
moccina Says:
Apr 21, 2012 - I picked up a Chamberlain chain drive unit, but actually wound up selling it and leaving the door as manual open only, since I don't park my car in the garage ever.
NicksGarageDoor Says:
Apr 22, 2012 - @moccina Ah, okay. If you ever want to put one in, however, your best bet is with Chamberlain/LiftMaster. Genie has dropped in quality since the '90's. Wayne Dalton was never really good either lol
Liftmaster1280 Says:
Apr 22, 2012 - yea. and people still buy them. i guess they want crappy openers. my neibor has 2 2000 genie chain glids. still going strong but LOUD!!!
NicksGarageDoor Says:
Apr 22, 2012 - @Liftmaster1280 Not everybody knows what we know either.
moccina Says:
Apr 22, 2012 - thx for the info. The belt drive systems seem nice. Only thing is if an intruder gained entry somehow, you would never hear it lol.
NicksGarageDoor Says:
Apr 22, 2012 - @moccina I actually have one in my house, there's a few videos on my channel. These newer remote control systems are very difficult to hack. The only way someone could gain entry would be very silent anyway. Search "How to break into a garage In 6 seconds."
NicksGarageDoor Says:
Apr 22, 2012 - @moccina It's the first video, by whathappened16.
moccina Says:
Apr 22, 2012 - I did see that vid, and ya--sketchy. I guess you're supposed to put a zip tie through the trolley disconnect to prevent it from happening.
NicksGarageDoor Says:
Apr 26, 2012 - @moccina The only major safety issue with that is that if someone/something got pinned under the door for whatever reason, you couldn't pull the manual release to stop it. I think that there is something called "The Garage Shield" or something that blocks the trolley.
TheGarageDoorGeek Says:
Apr 28, 2012 - Hi,Nice job with your spring replacement. Your door looks to be in really good shape, for a 1969 model. As long as you keep the wood sealed with a good coat of paint, that door will last you many more years.Some other things to consider as you're tuning up your door, would be replacing the hinges and rollers. You most likely have steel ball bearing rollers (that's what it sounded like anyway), so new white nylon ball bearing rollers will last longer, and be more smooth and quiet....
TheGarageDoorGeek Says:
Apr 28, 2012 - For hinges, I would recommend 14 ga. hinges, since wood doors are heavier than steel doors. If you replace the carriage bolts for the hinges, I recommend sealing the holes with some silicone caulk, so water can't penetrate the frame of the door.As long as you keep this door painted properly, you should never have to replace it, unless you want to. :-)Have a good one!
moccina Says:
May 9, 2012 - That is correct--the rollers are steel w/ bearings. I actually picked up some nylon rollers, went to install them and realized they had no bearings. I inspected the existing ones and they did not seem worn so I left it alone. But eventually I will order higher quality rollers and swap 'em out so it opens nice and smooth. Thanks for the comment!
TheGarageDoorGeek Says:
May 9, 2012 - Go for the 13-ball bearing white nylon rollers. They're best on heavy, custom built garage doors, so they'll last you a very long time. These are actually what I am about to replace mine with. :-)
iworkforbudlight Says:
Feb 21, 2012 - Hey great info! Thank you for sharing.