Strange garage door opener problem

[Zrxpilot]

My buddy has a problem with his garage door opener I had never seen before.

It operates up and down like normal with the push of the button. The problem is when the door is down...you can raise the door by hand.

Newer unit. Nothing fancy. Lift master I think

Any ideas?

 

[pattenp]

Without knowing the actual model it's hard to say.

 

[Zrxpilot]

Door opener is a Wayne Dalton model 3018

 

[doublearon98]

Have you tried disengaging the lock and then engaging it

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[dfiler2]

Does the door stay open if you open to the same height the opener goes to? I would bet the lock is not engaged and the spring is not tight enough to hold the door up. It's still strange as most openers would not lift with the lock not engaged. Just trying to think what might cause that.

 

[doublearon98]

Does the door stay open if you open to the same height the opener goes to? I would bet the lock is not engaged and the spring is not tight enough to hold the door up. It's still strange as most openers would not lift with the lock not engaged. Just trying to think what might cause that.

I didnt think it would open without the lock engaged but maybe in this scenario it could happen if its not engaged correctly. Some pictures of everything may help too

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[Zrxpilot]

Have you tried disengaging the lock and then engaging it

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I just disengaged it and re-engaged it. It’s definitely engaging. I can hear it click. The chain moves along with the door in both directions.

 

[Zrxpilot]

Does the door stay open if you open to the same height the opener goes to? I would bet the lock is not engaged and the spring is not tight enough to hold the door up. It's still strange as most openers would not lift with the lock not engaged. Just trying to think what might cause that.

Door stays open with the lock disengaged while in the up position.

 

[Zrxpilot]

I didnt think it would open without the lock engaged but maybe in this scenario it could happen if its not engaged correctly. Some pictures of everything may help too

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Let me know if you need others.

 

[pattenp]

See adjustment # 3 positive Mechanical door lock in manual.
The garage door opener is designed with an automatic mechanical
locking system. This lock secures the door in the fully closed
position.
To adjust, activate the door opener and allow the door to go to its fully
closed position. Loosen the two screws on the rail stop and move it
behind the latch assembly with a gap of 3/4" between "stop" and
"latch". Retighten screws.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/745275/Wayne-Dalton-3018.html?page=37#manual

Does the rail stop piece exist? It may be missing, hard to tell from picture. The diagram image is from the top of the rail.

 

[Zrxpilot]

See adjustment # 3 positive Mechanical door lock in manual.
The garage door opener is designed with an automatic mechanical
locking system. This lock secures the door in the fully closed
position.
To adjust, activate the door opener and allow the door to go to its fully
closed position. Loosen the two screws on the rail stop and move it
behind the latch assembly with a gap of 3/4" between "stop" and
"latch". Retighten screws.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/745275/Wayne-Dalton-3018.html?page=37#manual

Does the rail stop piece exist? It may be missing, hard to tell from picture. The diagram image is from the top of the rail.

Is this it with the square bolts? It’s kinda tough to tell from the diagram.

 

[pattenp]

Yes that's the rail stop. Make sure it's installed correctly. Looking at the diagram it appears yours is installed on the wrong side of the latch bracket. The rail stop should be on the side towards the motor. In your picture it looks like its on the side towards the door.

 

[Zrxpilot]

Yes that's the rail stop. Make sure it's installed correctly. Looking at the diagram it appears yours is installed on the wrong side of the latch bracket. The rail stop should be on the side towards the motor. In your picture it looks like its on the side towards the door.

Thanks! I’ve been playing around with it for a while here and I definitely think my problem has to do with the rail stop. I can hear it begin catch and then it slips by the rail stop. It doesn’t seem like there is much material there for it to latch on to. Is there a trick to installing one of these things? I tried using the 3/4” distance as stated in the instructions.

 

[doublearon98]

Could we get a top view of the latch while the door is closed. Also is the chain tension. Chain should be a 1/2" from the bottom of the rail

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[dfiler2]

Are you sure the rope isn't wrapped around the top of the chain, I think the rope should just pull down that lever it's tied to.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Yes that's the rail stop. Make sure it's installed correctly. Looking at the diagram it appears yours is installed on the wrong side of the latch bracket. The rail stop should be on the side towards the motor. In your picture it looks like its on the side towards the door.

Are you sure the rope isn't wrapped around the top of the chain, I think the rope should just pull down that lever it's tied to.

I was wondering about the rope myself. I don't remember seeing a rope go "up" to go down.

 

[Zrxpilot]

Problem solved! Thanks for all of the replies and for putting me on the right track. It turned out the bracket that is mounted to the top panel of the door was bent, which was preventing the rail stop from engaging. I added a reinforced bracket, adjusted the down force of the door, and adjusted the position of the rail stop, and I now have a garage door that locks. Thanks for saving me some money!!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Something so simple that it probably went unnoticed until now. Was this a second hand door or factory damaged piece ?

 

[Zrxpilot]

Something so simple that it probably went unnoticed until now. Was this a second hand door or factory damaged piece ?

This was on an existing door. Probably about 10 years old if I had to guess. It certainly got me wondering how long it had been like this.