Replace bottom rollers

[carnationss]

I have an 35 year old Allister Type IIA garage door opener. I swapped out the rollers for new ones except the bottom 2 rollers. My tension cable is connected to the brackets and want to know how to change the rollers. I have tried removing the vertical rail but the vertical rail has 2 rivets where it meets the curving top rail. I tried bending the steel vertical rail but could not get the roller out of the track. Any ideas?? Am thinking about removing the rivets and then replacing them after I change the bottom roller. I don't know how safe that is being my rails are steel! any ideas?

 

[BillK]

There are several ways to do it. If you simply "google" "replace bottom garage door roller" you will see the options. You put the door all the way up and then there is very little tension on the cable.

 

[carnationss]

I've been googling for a week. Put garage door all the way up and then what?

 

[Gutman]

A picture of your setup might help.

 

[The Cobbler]

a pic or 2 would help, but normally you would take the tension off the cables by rotating the shaft and then do your work , as in remove the brackets and replace the rollers. but fooling with the spring & cables can be dangerous if you're not careful

 

[matt_i]

I had good luck removing rivets from the vertical to radius transition in my track and replacing with button head screws, this was when increasing the storage height of the garage door after raising the header. They were slightly taller but the door does not seem to care.

 

[Tchicken]

That spring scares me - but I have at least one bottom roller that I think needs replacing - so hopefully someone posts some tips ...

 

[Ben Buck]

I did mine the other day, this Ol door is a 1972 wood model I have.

I released the door track mechanism- but first I drilled out the rivets connecting the vertical rail to the top curved part, removed the mid bracket lag screw and very carefully pulled the door down to where the bottom roller was at the point of where the 2 rails meet, twisted the vertical rail,the roller was very easy to remove and was replaced with a nylon one.

Bolted the vertical rail with two. 3/4 Philip flush head screws and double nutted them to really keep them tight. YMMV

 

[BillK]

Bottom roller at about 30 seconds Click on the "watch on You Tube" link

 

[carnationss]

I did mine the other day, this Ol door is a 1972 wood model I have.

I released the door track mechanism- but first I drilled out the rivets connecting the vertical rail to the top curved part, removed the mid bracket lag screw and very carefully pulled the door down to where the bottom roller was at the point of where the 2 rails meet, twisted the vertical rail,the roller was very easy to remove and was replaced with a nylon one.

Bolted the vertical rail with two. 3/4 Philip flush head screws and double nutted them to really keep them tight. YMMV

My tracks/rails are steel and I could barely bend them. Is it safe to replace vertical rail rivets with screws or will they come loose, I believe the newer rails are aluminum which are lighter and also easier to bend. My rails are steel.

 

[carnationss]

a pic or 2 would help, but normally you would take the tension off the cables by rotating the shaft and then do your work , as in remove the brackets and replace the rollers. but fooling with the spring & cables can be dangerous if you're not careful

Instead of rotating the shaft (not sure what that is, unless that is what the spring is on), how about putting a locking pliers on the tension cable next to the top cable wheel?

 

[carnationss]

What type of clamp would I use to clamp off the cable to remove bottom bracket?

 

[joebass3]

I've done it using the same method as the YouTube video posted by @BillK. The steel rails are tough to bend but definitely doable.

 

[The Cobbler]

What type of clamp would I use to clamp off the cable to remove bottom bracket?

typically you use 3/8" round bars in the spring clamp & turn it then peg it to a surface. but I suggest you watch some videos . and it can be vary dangerous if you goof up.

 

[carnationss]

I've done it using the same method as the YouTube video posted by @BillK. The steel rails are tough to bend but definitely doable.

I did get the rail bent out but the roller still would not come out

 

[Squankum]

Bottom roller at about 30 seconds Click on the "watch on You Tube" link

 

[CraigStu]

Would there be a way to use a come-a-long to take up the spring tension while you do the work?

 

[carnationss]

what is a come along ?

 

[NUTTSGT]

what is a come along ?

Sometimes people are better off writing a check and having a pro come do the job. . . .

 

[The Cobbler]

A typical thread where people come and ask for help, they are offered good options, yet they continue to not heed the given advise ,and still keep coming back ...

 

[joebass3]

what is a come along ?

Come Along

For those who think it's easier to annoy you than to Google 'Come along' themselves.

letmegooglethat.com

 

[Dumber than lumber]

There is a spring-winder tool that one can use with electric drill.
I saw them on Amazon; and on Youtube.
looks like it would work well and be worth the price.

 

[carnationss]

Come Along

For those who think it's easier to annoy you than to Google 'Come along' themselves.

letmegooglethat.com

that does not make any sense, just babble. maybe it's for people who pretend to help but are reaaly just annoyed, so best not be be here.

 

[firebirdparts]

Sometimes people are better off writing a check and having a pro come do the job. . . .

Honestly, I don't think that's the problem here. I think there's too much jibber jabber. Words matter. In a forum, if you try to carry on a conversation with 5 or 10 people, it simply does not track very well. Focus works better.

The correct answer was given - you open the door. With one eye you would observe there is no tension on the cables. That is about 99% of what a person needs to realize. It might be smart to block the door open to make it more safe. You would remove the bottom brackets one at a time.

If, when you open the door, there is still tension on the cables, then 99% of the time you would have a choice of two actions:
1. If it's a torsion spring door, you'd use a pipe wrench on the rotating shaft to get the bottom brackets off and back on one at a time.
2. If it's an extension spring door, you would simply with your bare hands unhook the springs.

These are the actions you'd take, because they only take about 1 second. You don't really consider any actions that take two seconds.

NOW THEN. What are the reasons this wouldn't work?
1. It's a high lift door. That could be a reason.
2. I can't think of any more.

 

[The Cobbler]

If it's a torsion spring door, you'd use a pipe wrench on the rotating shaft

there's holes in the die cast hub that retains the springs, and 3/8" socket extensions fit perfectly . and they will retain it in a chosen position by setting one strategically placed extension against a solid surface

 

[joebass3]

that does not make any sense, just babble. maybe it's for people who pretend to help but are reaaly just annoyed, so best not be be here.

You're right my reply was a bit snarky, I apologize. I know it's already been asked but posting pics of what you have would probably be helpful. It was a very simple job doing it as shown in the video that @BillK linked above. You mention that you were able to bend the track. What is keeping you from removing the roller using this process? Seems very straightforward but maybe I'm missing something.

Very good advice also given by @firebirdparts above. Knowing what type of springs are on your garage door would be a good place to start.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Honestly, I don't think that's the problem here. I think there's too much jibber jabber. Words matter. In a forum, if you try to carry on a conversation with 5 or 10 people, it simply does not track very well. Focus works better.

I don't think you're seeing what I'm seeing. The questions asked and replies to help make me think more troll than anything. I could be wrong but then I see this response....

that does not make any sense, just babble. maybe it's for people who pretend to help but are reaaly just annoyed, so best not be be here.

 

[Tchicken]

Likely a troll, but I found some usefulness in the thread and just successfully completed one of my two bottom rollers. Too hot to complete and to get to the other side will require me to move some stuff to get access. I just unhooked the cable, the worst part was spending all that time balanced on a step stool .. and then getting it wound back on its keeper roll so's to re-hook it. After spending way too much time trying to get the cable to match the grooves in it's take-up spool I realized that it would wind itself back up when the door cycled. Which it did.

 

[carnationss]

You're right my reply was a bit snarky, I apologize. I know it's already been asked but posting pics of what you have would probably be helpful. It was a very simple job doing it as shown in the video that @BillK linked above. You mention that you were able to bend the track. What is keeping you from removing the roller using this process? Seems very straightforward but maybe I'm missing something.

Very good advice also given by @firebirdparts above. Knowing what type of springs are on your garage door would be a good place to start.

Roller would not move enough to slip it out. torsion springs