Live Chat & Podcast at 1:00PM Eastern on Sunday!
There's no such thing as a stupid question, but they're the easiest to answer.
JoinTour
Login
Search
Do It Yourself Projects
Tag Cloud
access acer asus bios bsod computer crash desktop driver drivers error ethernet excel freeze gaming hard drive hardware hdmi internet laptop malware memory modem monitor motherboard network printer problem ram registry router security slow software sound toshiba trojan ubuntu 11.10 uninstall usb video virus vista wifi windows windows 7 windows 7 32 bit windows 7 64 bit windows xp wireless
Search
Search for:
Tech Support Guy Forums > General Technology > Do It Yourself Projects >
My Craftsman Garage door opener seems to have lost force.

Reply  
Thread Tools
jazamm42's Avatar
Junior Member with 2 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Experience: Intermediate
12-Nov-2009, 12:37 AM #1
Cool My Craftsman Garage door opener seems to have lost force.
Hello all, What causes a garage door opener to stall out when opening or closing ? I've maxed out the limit switches and if you hold the controller button at the wall and don't release it, it will open and close but a touch and release of the control allows the motor to stall. It's a new home for us and some of the guide wheels were broken but I replaced them to make the tracking system at the door smooth and operational but the motor still stalls without continuously pressing the button. Any help for me ? Thanks !
Drabdr's Avatar
Computer Specs
Community Moderator with 6,566 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Arlington, TX
Experience: Computers fear me
12-Nov-2009, 01:06 AM #2
Well, hello there! Welcome to the TSG!

If you can hold the wall button down and the door closes, then I would look at the optical safety eyes (mounted down about a foot off the ground; at the door). At least with my opener, the door button will close the door, with the thought being that you can see if it is safe to close the door. But if the sensors "detect" an issue, it will not allow automatic operation.

So, depending on your opener and the sensors, you should have a green light on one of them, or a constant light. A red light or a blinking light would indicate a problem for most I'm familiar with; it might be different for your particular type of opener.

What you can do is inspect the sensors and see if one of them is knocked out of line or if there is something suspect about them. If they look like they are in line but just not working, then you might can take them loose, and put head to head. They should work, and the door work with the button.

I would think you would want to determine if everything is OK with the sensors. So see if there is a green and/or constant light on.
__________________
“The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers.”
— Dave Barry
Frank4d's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 8,718 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: So. California
Experience: Since MS-Dos 3.0
12-Nov-2009, 01:13 AM #3
How old is the garage door opener? One thing that comes to mind is the motor start capacitor inside the opener unit.
K7M's Avatar
K7M K7M is offline K7M has a Profile Picture
Computer Specs
Senior Member with 801 posts.
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: MA
Experience: Intermediate
12-Nov-2009, 07:38 AM #4
with the door closed, pull the release to manually operate the door. Lift the door and see if it operates freely by hand, insure it goes up square and one side doesn't try to go up before the other. If that is OK now try the opener without the weight of the door on it, there could be dirt, or excessive wear on the track causing a problem. , also check the belt tension if it is a belt driven operator.
jazamm42's Avatar
Junior Member with 2 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Experience: Intermediate
12-Nov-2009, 09:17 PM #5
Thanks everyone !
drabdr was spot -on the eyes were not seeing Thanks!
Koot's Avatar
Computer Specs
Senior Member with 1,312 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Plano, TX
13-Nov-2009, 10:15 AM #6
drabdr's advice was excellent. One additional comment that may help others experiencing this same problem or other problems with adjustments... After trying to make [some] garage door openers work by holding the wall button down or re-adjusting the Up/Down limits or Raise/Lower Force adjustments, etc., etc. it can mess up the opener's programming and the opener must be reprogrammed. (This also applies to openers with some age on them that needs to be re-adjusted.) With some openers these adjustments (Up/Down & Force) must be done totally manually by trial-and-error. However, there are some some openers that have the a "smart adjustment system", which is an electronic feature built into the opener that allows the owner to easily reset (and tweak) the Up/Down limits and Raise/Lower Force by going through a simple process where the adjustment controls on the opener are adjusted (turned) until the red LED lights on the opener [just] fades or goes out. When you turn the various adjustment screws until the red LED lights (on the opener) just starts blinking and goes out - the adjustment is perfect. A really neat (and very simple) feature that makes adjusting and tweaking all the adjustments a piece of cake.

For garage door openers with this smart built-in adjustment feature - there is a special process on how to do it...and the owners manual is really a necessity to have. But even if your opener doesn't have the smart adjustment feature it's always good to have the owners manual, which should be available online for most any brand or model.
__________________
The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.

Last edited by Koot; 13-Nov-2009 at 10:21 AM..
Reply

THIS THREAD HAS EXPIRED.
Are you having the same problem? We have volunteers ready to answer your question, but first you'll have to join for free. Need help getting started? Check out our Welcome Guide.

Search Tech Support Guy

Find the solution to your
computer problem!




Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
WELCOME TO TECH SUPPORT GUY! Are you looking for the solution to your computer problem? Join our site today to ask your question -- for free! Our site is run completely by volunteers who want to help you solve your computer problems. See our Welcome Guide to get started.
Thread Tools



Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter TechGuy.tv TechGuy.tv Mobile TSG Mobile
You Are Using:
Server ID
Advertisements do not imply our endorsement of that product or service.
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:58 PM.
Copyright © 1996 - 2011 TechGuy, Inc. All rights reserved.

Powered by Cermak Technologies, Inc.