Door opener rail flex

[493 scamp]

My new GDO has a rail made of several pieces slid together and one is bent where it slides together causing the rail to bow and the trolley to stick. I was thinking of taking it down,straightening the bend,and welding the joints to make a solid rail. I see the professional door installers use solid rails.
As it is now the door catches at the bent joint then the rail bows to the right 8 inches or so! Another option would be rebar inside the rail.

 

[upndown]

Can you exchange it? Not to rub salt in the wound, but that's just one reason I refuse to install a 3 piece rail..Good luck!

 

[BudgetRacing]

If it flexes that badly its likely binding or your spring isn't balanced properly. How is it when you operate the door manually?

 

[kbs2244]

If it is new it should be a warranty item.
Or you should be able to replace the 3 part shaft with a piece of EMT.

 

[493 scamp]

Although new It was purchased quite some time ago. I am on a tight budget,building has been up since last Dec. and I have been buying things on sale when I can.
The door spring is too tight,it almost goes up by itself but hard to lower. I will address that as well. It looks like the Mig welding might be the best choice at this point after straitening the bent end.

 

[AndyL]

Just to be contrary the rails are just fine for most doors... (Heck the chamberlain retail ones are way stronger than the genie/marantec/etc dealer rails - that sure appear to be 2x4 light gauge steel stud)

There are some doors they're not appropriate to - the big heavy wooden carriage doors do overtax them, I tend to start going with a dealer rail when you get into that 18x8 range... But most steel insulated doors in a residential application they're 100% fine. Its not a new design - at least for the chamberlains - they've been doing that exact rail for more than 20years now.

That said - if the doors not balanced - no openers going to work long term. Gotta solve the root cause before you start patching the symptom - or youll just end up with a bigger problem down the road.

 

[493 scamp]

Straightened and welded,welds ground down and reinstalled. Its better but still flexes an inch or better. I also added a 2X4 next to the rail attached to the same header and motor bracket. After welding I did notice a slight curve upward in the center,and now it bows upward when the door is lowered. I have been adjusting the door and torsion springs also with some success. I ran out of patience today but plan on trying to get the curve out of it and the door tension better.