Replace bottom rollers

[carnationss]

I have an 35 year old Allister Type IIA garage door opener. I swapped out the rollers for new ones except the bottom 2 rollers. My tension cable is connected to the brackets and want to know how to change the rollers. I have tried removing the vertical rail but the vertical rail has 2 rivets where it meets the curving top rail. I tried bending the steel vertical rail but could not get the roller out of the track. Any ideas?? Am thinking about removing the rivets and then replacing them after I change the bottom roller. I don't know how safe that is being my rails are steel! any ideas?

 

[BillK]

There are several ways to do it. If you simply "google" "replace bottom garage door roller" you will see the options. You put the door all the way up and then there is very little tension on the cable.

 

[carnationss]

I've been googling for a week. Put garage door all the way up and then what?

 

[Gutman]

A picture of your setup might help.

 

[The Cobbler]

a pic or 2 would help, but normally you would take the tension off the cables by rotating the shaft and then do your work , as in remove the brackets and replace the rollers. but fooling with the spring & cables can be dangerous if you're not careful

 

[matt_i]

I had good luck removing rivets from the vertical to radius transition in my track and replacing with button head screws, this was when increasing the storage height of the garage door after raising the header. They were slightly taller but the door does not seem to care.

 

[Tchicken]

That spring scares me - but I have at least one bottom roller that I think needs replacing - so hopefully someone posts some tips ...

 

[Ben Buck]

I did mine the other day, this Ol door is a 1972 wood model I have.

I released the door track mechanism- but first I drilled out the rivets connecting the vertical rail to the top curved part, removed the mid bracket lag screw and very carefully pulled the door down to where the bottom roller was at the point of where the 2 rails meet, twisted the vertical rail,the roller was very easy to remove and was replaced with a nylon one.

Bolted the vertical rail with two. 3/4 Philip flush head screws and double nutted them to really keep them tight. YMMV

 

[BillK]

Bottom roller at about 30 seconds Click on the "watch on You Tube" link

 

[carnationss]

I did mine the other day, this Ol door is a 1972 wood model I have.

I released the door track mechanism- but first I drilled out the rivets connecting the vertical rail to the top curved part, removed the mid bracket lag screw and very carefully pulled the door down to where the bottom roller was at the point of where the 2 rails meet, twisted the vertical rail,the roller was very easy to remove and was replaced with a nylon one.

Bolted the vertical rail with two. 3/4 Philip flush head screws and double nutted them to really keep them tight. YMMV

My tracks/rails are steel and I could barely bend them. Is it safe to replace vertical rail rivets with screws or will they come loose, I believe the newer rails are aluminum which are lighter and also easier to bend. My rails are steel.

 

[carnationss]

a pic or 2 would help, but normally you would take the tension off the cables by rotating the shaft and then do your work , as in remove the brackets and replace the rollers. but fooling with the spring & cables can be dangerous if you're not careful

Instead of rotating the shaft (not sure what that is, unless that is what the spring is on), how about putting a locking pliers on the tension cable next to the top cable wheel?

 

[carnationss]

What type of clamp would I use to clamp off the cable to remove bottom bracket?

 

[joebass3]

I've done it using the same method as the YouTube video posted by @BillK. The steel rails are tough to bend but definitely doable.

 

[The Cobbler]

What type of clamp would I use to clamp off the cable to remove bottom bracket?

typically you use 3/8" round bars in the spring clamp & turn it then peg it to a surface. but I suggest you watch some videos . and it can be vary dangerous if you goof up.

 

[carnationss]

I've done it using the same method as the YouTube video posted by @BillK. The steel rails are tough to bend but definitely doable.

I did get the rail bent out but the roller still would not come out