Garage door not opening

[water-works]

This happens every time I open the garage door:

1. push button -> starts opening and about 1' up, it makes a loud sound and stops.
2. push button -> goes back down just fine.
3. push button -> opens all the way, without problem.
4. push button -> closes all the way without problem.

I keep the chain lubed, as well as all the little rollers on the track. Sensors are clean and nothing blocking them. Track looks straight and not bent. Chain has a little slack in it, but not enough to hit that slider hook that it grabs onto.

I'm wondering if it has to do with the huge loaded spring and cable, because it sounds like that's where the loud bang is coming from, but I can't see the spring, because the door comes up just enough to block the view of it.

 

[77thor]

If a cable or spring broke, the door would never go up at all...
check for any interference with the spring and pulleys

 

[AndyL]

Springs broken, almost assuredly

 

[Bluedodge]

Unlatch the carriage and open it by hand

Does the door fight you once you open it up approx 1 or 2 inches? Determine what is hitting or binding up around the tracks.

If the door rolls up and down like butter, then it is something goofy with your opener.

 

[homebuilt burner]

On a completely unrelated note. I would suggest cutting off the handle on the rope for the unlatch. There was a rash of garage robberies in our town. They were getting in by reaching up between the garage door and the header with a coat hanger, hooking the release handle. Pulling down on the hanger and open the door. Even with the handle off you can still pull the bare rope and unhook it yourself from the inside of the garage

 

[oledude1952]

This happens every time I open the garage door:

1. push button -> starts opening and about 1' up, it makes a loud sound and stops.
2. push button -> goes back down just fine.
3. push button -> opens all the way, without problem.
4. push button -> closes all the way without problem.

I keep the chain lubed, as well as all the little rollers on the track. Sensors are clean and nothing blocking them. Track looks straight and not bent. Chain has a little slack in it, but not enough to hit that slider hook that it grabs onto.

I'm wondering if it has to do with the huge loaded spring and cable, because it sounds like that's where the loud bang is coming from, but I can't see the spring, because the door comes up just enough to block the view of it.

Does the sound just stop while the door keeps moving or, does the door stop moving ? The tension spring if broken somewhere in its coils, will make a noise as it loads and unloads. JMO


My door tension spring in the pic ….

 

[water-works]

House is 15yrs old.

Sound stops and garage door stops at same time.

Released the pull handle and was able to slide the door all the way, no problem. I think you guys are right in the spring thing is broke. I can't see a break of the coil on visual inspection, but that is definitely what is making the loud sound when the door stops.

I did a google and see they have replacement kits for this part. Looks dangerous as hell to mess with all that loaded up tension, so I will have to watch a few videos first before attempting to remove and replace. Thanks!

Type: Chaimberlain LiftMaster Professional 1/3 H.P.

 

[matt_i]

If you have an older (like 10-20 yo) Chamberlain opener there's a worm gear which is molded and wears out. It can lead to some erratic behavior as the gear teeth get extremely thin and sometimes they fold over instead of going to the next tooth. But the good news its around a $20 part and is designed to be the weak link in case of a catastrophic overload. Not that bad to change, I have done 2.

 

[Kevin54]

If you have an outside wireless button, change the battery. Problem fixed.

 

[water-works]

If you have an older (like 10-20 yo) Chamberlain opener there's a worm gear which is molded and wears out. It can lead to some erratic behavior as the gear teeth get extremely thin and sometimes they fold over instead of going to the next tooth. But the good news its around a $20 part and is designed to be the weak link in case of a catastrophic overload. Not that bad to change, I have done 2.

Are you talking about one of these things?
https://www.chamberlain.com/parts/c/garage-door-opener-gear-kits

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

You do not state where you are so we can maybe narrow the probable cause. Nit may be cold weather related, since it was minus 10* F this morning, or you may be in sunny Florida. If where you are is cold, check that you have no ice build up between the top or any sections. Moisture can get in there and freeze. The opener has pressure limits, up and down. You can try adjusting the up limit a touch. In cold weather the door needs a little extra to overcome the frozen stems, wheels and hinges. If you have a little spray lube, spray the torsion spring(s). They rub against each other when the door is closed and again if it's really cold there could be ice in there. Adjusting the springs should be your last resort, not your first.

 

[kbs2244]

The "load sound" is a hint.
The spring could be binding and the releasing with a bang.

While the door is down soak the spring with motor oil.
This will lube the coils when they rub against each other while winding.

While you are up there it is easy to check for a broken spring.
But I think the oil will cure it.

 

[Bluedodge]

House is 15yrs old.

Sound stops and garage door stops at same time.

Released the pull handle and was able to slide the door all the way, no problem. I think you guys are right in the spring thing is broke. I can't see a break of the coil on visual inspection, but that is definitely what is making the loud sound when the door stops.

I did a google and see they have replacement kits for this part. Looks dangerous as hell to mess with all that loaded up tension, so I will have to watch a few videos first before attempting to remove and replace. Thanks!

Type: Chaimberlain LiftMaster Professional 1/3 H.P.

If the door rolled up easily and evenly all the way up once you disconnected the opener, it is not your torsion spring.

If the problem was the torsion spring, you would have had to fight the door to get it open.

Something is malfunctioning in your opener. Chain is catching, drive clutch is slipping, sensors are off kilter, etc...

 

[bamawildcat]

Are you talking about one of these things?
https://www.chamberlain.com/parts/c/garage-door-opener-gear-kits

That's what he was talking about. My experience though with the plastic teeth sheared off was the door stops at the moment of time the gear goes away. E.g., mid travel and pressing the button just results in the garage door sound and no actual door movement.

 

[AndyL]

The gears are a mechanical fuse. If they're damaged something else is very wrong.

Edit - are the ladder holders new? The right one looks a touch low and bent

 

[BillK]

Just want to repeat what others have said. . . . . if the spring was broken you would not be able to open the door. Might need some lube but it is not broken. I have had three of them break over the years between my two garages and you simply cannot open the door.

 

[water-works]

You can see the tension in the chain is causing the gear shaft to pull towards the garage door, which causes the teeth of the (unused) top metal gear to go under the plastic cover that extends towards it. Shaft lean can't be good, even though it looks like the teeth aren't hitting on anything below the plastic piece, they are chewing into the plastic.

From your suggestions, based on the noise the spring makes when it stops, I'm thinking that's it's the spring. I visually inspected it really good but I can't see any breaks.

Will try oiling the spring this weekend when I get some time, and report back. Thanks guys!

https://imgur.com/a/LBraHII

https://imgur.com/a/Dvv2rWC

 

[gnpenning]

Please don't oil the spring. As someone that has had to replace and clean up the mess from well meaning but unknowledgeable attempts make things work better your wasting your time. A properly setup spring should never need to be oiled. Springs that are popping weren't set up properly and need to be redone.

You mentioned releasing the door and opening the door by hand. You didn't fully answer how it is balanced or if you made several complete up and down cycles. Also run the opener with out the door.

As mentioned your spring is not broken. After you answer the above I would like to see pictures of the track in relation to the rollers and door.

Hotrod mentioned temp relationship. Good point, were are you located and do you notice a difference if it warms up?

 

[water-works]

Central Ca. Gets down to about 38 at night lately, and high of low 60's. The usual rough winter temps. Haha. It only recently started doing this maybe last three months. But it only used to do it sometimes, and now has progressed to every time. I don't know how it would operate in warm summer temps, but no change mid-day when it's warmest right now.

When I manually push the door up, it feels balanced. It doesn't catch on the rails or anything and I'm able to easily pull/push it all the way up.

I disconnected and ran the opener. The chain never stopped and operated as you would expect, fully up and fully down. Moment I reconnect, it stops every time at about 1' opening. The back down. Then back up and it fully opens on the second try.

more pics

starting point
https://imgur.com/a/ygAb7qF

roller position at stopping point
https://imgur.com/a/BUmh4Jc

vertical rail right
https://imgur.com/a/AZySv3g

opposite side stopping point
https://imgur.com/a/1UEv3Am

top rail
https://imgur.com/a/XWpApTf

 

[James-W]

I agree with "Bluedodge" in that if the spring(s) broke the door would not go up very easily. The door opener does not lift the weight of the door, it only lifts maybe 20 percent of the weight. The other 80 percent is lifted by the springs. If a spring(s) was broken it would be VERY difficult to lift the door by hand and I rather doubt the opener would lift it either.