Liftmaster 3800 Install problem

[Pineracer]

Hello all-

I received an LM3800 from my wife for a belated Christmas present, although not sure it was for me as she parks in the garage!

The good:

Anyway-The install went ok. I had to build up the support for the housing bracket with sandwiched 2x6s since the garage door framing was 2x10 and nothing sat flush to the drywall-no problem. Ran all the wires, drilled the appropriate holes in the rail for the auto -lock and set the electric eyes in place.

The Not-So-Good:

-Had to adjust the torsion spring as the door didn't want to stay open. A trial-and-error process, as I had never messed with one before. It now stays open at any level and wants to start down with little effort.

-The door just isn't level and I suspect it is leading to my ultimate problem...... THE OPENER WONT FUNCTION!!!! My first attempt at leveling was to loosen the set screws on the roller for the side which was lower, but I loosened too much and had the whole spring unwound. While it was unwound, I leveled the door and cranked the spring back up. I then set the cables nice and taut on the rollers and tightened the set screws. One trip up and back down and the door was back to un-level. Any thoughts??? Could this be the culprit????

Directions call for you to "set" the up and down limits of the door initally. The opener will go up to the desired height (although the door is rather noisy) and will go down to my desired setting just fine. Problem arises when I try and hit the remote immediatly after and the thing just wont go. It makes a slight groan like it wants to begin lifting and just shuts down.

One thing I noticed was my torsion spring and bar is not level. It has a bracket in the middle which is raised slightly, giving the bar a very slight bend in it. It makes the 3800 wobble when it is working. Another issue causing the unit to not work?

With money tight, I am trying to fix this thing on my own, but my limited knowledge of garage doors has been surpassed at this point!! Any clues would be greatly appreciated!! The doors are only 2 years old, but I have no idea who installed them as we bought the house distressed.

Regards-

Pineracer

 

[Dave Carney]

I'd call an OH door company and have the door adjusted so that it meets the specs that are laid out at the beginning of the 3800 installation manual. It will never work correctly until the door does.

 

[nova65ss]

When you say it went unlevel after one trip how unlevel are we talking an inch higher on one sode or a foot? If you are standing in the garage looking out is it the right side that is higher?

Are you attempting to set the limits with the door 3/4 up or all the way on the ground?

 

[Pineracer]

It was only off about 1 or 2 inches and the right side is higher when looking out of garage.

I was trying to set the limits with the door starting on the ground.

 

[nova65ss]

It was only off about 1 or 2 inches and the right side is higher when looking out of garage.

I was trying to set the limits with the door starting on the ground.

The reason it is higher on that side is because when you tighten the right drum it pulls the cable tight, when you tighten the left drum it actually loosens/ turns the drum counter clockwise on the shaft making it more loose than the other side. Make sense?

The proper way to do it would be to tighten the left drum put the cable on and pull it tight. Then clamp the shaft off with vice grips to keep the shaft from turning and the cable tight. Then tighten the right drum, then wind your springs.

When setting the limits on a 3800 you need to pull the cord and lift it 3/4 of the way up and rengage to the opener. The go through the programming procedure. If you start it on the ground it probably will not work properly.

 

[Pineracer]

Thanks Nova. I'll let you know how I make out


Update: The Liftmaster is functioning. Tomorrow night (if sober...St Patricks Day) I will tackle the door adjustment.

Thanks again!!!!!