Garage Door install question

[Hunduh]

I'm installing my DDM high lift setup this weekend. What I am curious about is the spacing left to right for the vertical tracks. I have read to leave an extra 1/2" wider than the wheels on the bottom (1/4" of play each side) and 1 1/2" of play at the top of the door (3/4" of play each side).

At the floor, how far 'apart' from each other should the vertical tracks be for a 16 x 7 door in a 15' 11 1/2" opening? What about the distance at the top of the opening? What about 4 feet higher where it makes the turn to go horizontal? I thought the tracks would have been installed with a level.


Anyone here with more experience than me (which is none) explain the right way to do it?

Thanks

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

When you do things for a living you find ways to make the job quicker and better so you can reduce callbacks. May not be exactly as the instructions tell you to do it. Dress the bottom section with cables hardware rollers and all. Set it in the opening centered and level. If you us e shims to level the door leave it hanging out to the side an extra inch. Put one track up holding track tight to the rollers using only one lag. Repeat on other side. The track must sit on the same shim the door does if you used shims. Dress your second section and place on top of first. Attach sections to each other then lag second bracket leaving 3/8 to 1/2" gap each side. Repeat with sections and from here everything stays plumb. Purpose of staying close to the rollers on the bottom is so the door always comes to rest in the same place. You won't see marks on the side of the door from rubbing on seals once the door is closed. Hope this helps.

 

[Hunduh]

That helps a lot. Do I keep the same 3/8 to 1/2 gap (each side) for each panel all the way up? Just keep it 3/8 to 1/2" all the way up to the turn and horizontal track?

 

[gnpenning]

I would agree with what you were told except for having the bottoms rollers tight. I never want a roller tight. I always keep a 1/4" minimum.

If the bottom 2 panels are level the rest will be level. Make sure your cable tension is equal side to side so the door opens level.

At the radius I like to open the gap a little while keeping the flag brackets plumb. Make sure your drums are tight too the bearings.

Make sure your horizontal track is close to level and not pinching in or pulling the wheels out. The stem is supporting the weight of the door. Prepunched angle holes are a inch apart. Make sure the tracks are level side to side.