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trying to solve squeaky door

johnoh

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2022
Messages
14
Hi. Two months ago you all helped me figure out the panel popping noise on my new Wayne Dalton 16ft garage door:


which was resolved by them sending out two different techs who straightened (somewhat) several hinges, and the popping noise is now pretty much gone. But now the dang thing is squeaking a lot, so I'm trying to figure out what is wrong. Here's a video I just made, the squeaking gets noticeable especially near the end.


I've got the upgraded nylon rollers on the door and had just lubed everywhere the tech said to using lithium grease, which quiets some of the clatter but makes no difference at all for the squeak. Its hard to pinpoint exactly where the squeak is coming from but as best I can tell its loudest when I stand on a ladder and get close to the center of the door and put my head near the torsion spring (its a torquemaster), which I'm told is not lube-able since its enclosed.

Am interested if you all think the squeak is likely to be the spring or something else. I called a local guy just to get a price and he said he could replace the spring with the more traditional larger type spring which is exposed and lube-able, for $675. That's more than I want to spend but if I'm gonna be stuck with this squeak for ten years I might actually go down this route and get more quotes. Any input appreciated. Thanks.
 
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AndyL

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Joined
Feb 22, 2012
Messages
1,371
Location
Vancouver
I called a local guy just to get a price and he said he could replace the spring with the more traditional larger type spring which is exposed and lube-able, for $675. That's more than I want to spend but if I'm gonna be stuck with this squeak for ten years I might actually go down this route and get more quotes. Any input appreciated. Thanks.
675$ is insane $ just my opinion. That's about double what it should cost.

Lube the center bushing on the torquetube - likely where the noise is coming from, just a plastic bushing that rolls in a formed steel plate - I like 3-in-1 there myself. Just needs a drop. May want to check it's actually plumb, they tended to get anchored with 3/4" sag or so - which exasperated the noise.
 
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johnoh

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2022
Messages
14
675$ is insane $ just my opinion. That's about double what it should cost.

Lube the center bushing on the torquetube - likely where the noise is coming from, just a plastic bushing that rolls in a formed steel plate - I like 3-in-1 there myself. Just needs a drop. May want to check it's actually plumb, they tended to get anchored with 3/4" sag or so - which exasperated the noise.
Thanks for the tips, just checked those out. I oiled that center plastic bushing (had greased it earlier) but it sounds the same. Then I removed the bolts for the center support right next to that bushing and just held up the center of the torquetube with my hand while moving the door up and down a few inches and it sounds the same. Then tried raising and lowering my hand too, hoping to find a neutral point of support but it all sounded the same. The most noise occurs while lowering the door the final few inches though it does not make noise when going back up those same few inches. While I was up there with my ear an inch from everything it became obvious the sound is coming from inside the torquetube, somewhere between a foot left of center and a foot right of center.
 
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johnoh

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Joined
Mar 18, 2022
Messages
14
Is it plausible that the squeal is coming from the enclosed interior of a 3 month old torquetube?
 

Dogmeat

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Joined
Jan 20, 2017
Messages
181
Location
S. Mich.
In this case, I would ignore the "non-lubricated due to being enclosed".....I would jump in and get INSIDE the damn housing, and
lube it up GOOD!! I have the wall-mounted springs, and a couple times a year I will take my oil can and dribble some oil all
along the length of both springs....it not only helps the spring perform easier, but quieter as well. NO WAY IN HELL would I fork over
$675 or anything even CLOSE to that....I prefer doing about everything in my domain that I can....always have!!
 
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