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Be cautious of jackshaft operator installers

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Worsedog

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 2, 2008
Messages
1,524
Location
Central FL
amt said:
So the installer came by today and got the door working, but for now we are going to stick to using only the chain hoist, so we can closely monitor the door as we raise/lower it. I asked about the incompatibility of this operator [with a sectional door], and he stated the only difference between this one and the one designated for a sectional door (MHS vs MH) was that this one is a slower speed. Regardless, because of this random sticking of the door, I insisted that we move to the trolley style, and they agreed.
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Seriously, that is acceptable???

And he is completely wrong about the differences in the openers as has been mentioned repeatedly here.

So rather than fixing it, it will get a bandaid? If it sticks now, nothing will change, it will still stick. Based on the incompetence displayed by your installer already they will probably just jack up the force settings and then when it really hangs up it will destroy the door and the opener. Sounds like an awesome solution to me.
 
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dan1554

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Joined
Aug 28, 2023
Messages
80
I had the wind blow a cabinet door open and stop the downward progress of my door in a jackshaft application. I didn't think about it and moved the cabinet door and the whole unit came slamming down. The tension sensor was on the other side of the door from where it got hung up by the cabinet door, so it didn't see slack until it was too late.

At this point I had a professional come out and install a new door because the old one was in bad shape anyway. They installed the slack sensor directly to the wall. It was so far from the cable and the arm was so extended that im not sure it would ever get tripped. The arm just trips a tiny cheap contact switch and only when it is almost all the way closed/retracted. I had to add some blocks between the sensor and the wall. Now its a hair trigger. A misplaced trash can was in the way and it stopped almost immediately.

That said, there are most definitely safer and more fool-proof opener designs out there.
 
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coldh2o

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Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
1,460
Location
Ontario, Canada
Worsedog said:
Seriously, that is acceptable???

And he is completely wrong about the differences in the openers as has been mentioned repeatedly here.

So rather than fixing it, it will get a bandaid? If it sticks now, nothing will change, it will still stick. Based on the incompetence displayed by your installer already they will probably just jack up the force settings and then when it really hangs up it will destroy the door and the opener. Sounds like an awesome solution to me.
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Yeah, this is a real head-scratcher.

As many have noted, the proper solution is to fix the set-up so the door doesn't stick then get the proper jackshaft operator.

This is all on the installer, I don't see why the OP is going down such an odd path.
 
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Wrench97

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Joined
Jun 23, 2018
Messages
12,377
Location
Southeastern Pa
Several years ago I had a new door installed on the shop at work, 12x14 the jackshaft had a chain hoist to open and close.
The new door would not drop on it's own at the top so if you pulled to hard/fast the cables would pop off usually just one side and off the larger outside diameter so the door now went down crooked binding here and there until the other side came off, the installers first solution was have the stops set so it hung down a foot into the opening, well a 13'6" trailer doesn't fit though a 13' opening, next came the spring loaded stops at the top, they didn't work either. I gave up on the door installers and raised the tail end of the horizonal tracks 2.5" so gravity helped the door drop at the top, worked fine ever since.
 
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amt

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Jun 11, 2007
Messages
96
Long overdue follow-up, but they did replace the unit with an overhead track/chain. They did use the 1-piece track. The door is working great, but it does need to be adjusted to open "more". The opening is 13-ft and the door opens to 12'-1". At this point I think I'll make the adjustments myself, as I don't want them involved if I can help it.

Unrelated, I pulled my own permit for electrical and installed EMT everywhere and passed the electrical inspection on the first try :)
 
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Sweetcorn

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 14, 2018
Messages
686
Location
North Central Ohio
amt said:
Long overdue follow-up, but they did replace the unit with an overhead track/chain. They did use the 1-piece track. The door is working great, but it does need to be adjusted to open "more". The opening is 13-ft and the door opens to 12'-1". At this point I think I'll make the adjustments myself, as I don't want them involved if I can help it.

Unrelated, I pulled my own permit for electrical and installed EMT everywhere and passed the electrical inspection on the first try :)
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So they called it good and left with the door stopping (almost) a foot shy of opening all the way?

Sounds like a great place.
 
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