Garage door closing force adjustment.

[PoorOwner]

I never noticed until I saw one hallow broom stick got crushed. So it's time to test it.

The opener is genie 10 years old and is not belt drive

According to the manual you put a piece of 2x4. I was worry this would damage the door shutting on a small area. Should I dial it back a bit first? Or put more pieces of wood to spread it out?

I tried to lift the door while it was shutting but was not able to.
I never messed with it but wanted to make sure it is safe. I have had garage door (belt drive) where it touches an emblem and it would reverse, but this one seems to be pretty forceful.

Thanks.

 

[cdestuck]

You can do both of what you suggested just to avoid any problems. Go idea to ck this stuff now and then.

 

[RobSmith]

I don't know what the last bloke meant but put the wood parallel with the door..that will spread the load along the door. I think its a too strong setting. If it crushes things its way over top.

 

[rlitman]

What does it matter which way the wood face? The connection between the door and the opener arm concentrates force in a smaller area anyway. If something is going to crunch, I'd expect it to happen at the top.

 

[upndown]

I always test them by hand. First off physically look at the adjustment setting, start somewhere midrange. As the door is traveling downward, grab the bottom of the door with both hands. That way if the setting is too strong you can just let go..no damage. Then make your adjustments accordingly.

Do the same for the up cycle.

 

[PoorOwner]

I think I should have been able to reverse by lifting it with both arms. They just want you to use 2x4 for liability reasons. But I am not trying it on a single steel insulated door. I think whoever was here just maxed the knobs so I will dial back first. I wanted to ask first because the force adjust also had to do with setting the closing limits if I understand the manual correctly.

 

[North Run Grader]

The last 2 garage doors I installed, we set them so they wouldn't crush a Styrofoam coffee cup. That may have been the recommended force according to the installation manual, iirc, but it has been 20 years or so. If you can find the model number I'm sure you can find the installation manual online.

 

[AndrewDouglasBird]

From what I've seen, the manuals usually state you should be able to stop it by hand. Generally there is just a potentiometer on the side of the unit you turn to adjust force.

 

[CJ7VFR]

From what I've seen, the manuals usually state you should be able to stop it by hand. Generally there is just a potentiometer on the side of the unit you turn to adjust force.

Yes, most garage door installation manuals tell you to first test the doors down force by using your hands to try to stop the door when it is closing and is about half way down. You should be able to make the door reverse back up without having to put too much pressure on the door with your hands.

The final test of the doors down force is done with a 2x4, laid flat on the floor, so the door can contact an object that is approximately 1.5 inches thick.

Here is a screen grab of the page of my Craftsman Garage door opener installation manual. It states the procedure for testing both the down force and up force.

Jim

 

[AndrewDouglasBird]

Ah, right. For some reason I was thinking of using a 2x4 stood on end in place of your hand.

 

[TLCObsession]

Roll of paper towels.

Sadly a woman in town was killed this past week - not that the sensors would have helped. It had a broken spring and she was trying to 'help' the opener and it came down and crushed her.

 

[upndown]

Forget about paper towels and 2x4's! If it tries driving you to the ground, it's set way to tight for a child or a pet! That's also the reason specs for mounting sensors are 6" from floor or less. That's for people not spending their time trying to figure out how to bypass them!

Sad to hear about that woman! Not to be callas, but that would have been money well spent on a service call. RIP