Garage door doesn't close 1st time

[Mike]

Background: I had a spring break on my double garage door a few months ago, and had a contractor replace both springs.

Now some months later, when shutting to door (/w the garage door opener). it stops (about 2/3s down), and goes back up (seems to think that there's an obstruction). To get the door to shut cleanly I have to assist (pull) in it's downward travel (apply additional load to the door, to counteract the springs).

My guess it that the "new" springs have been set incorrectly. If I try to shut to door sans garage door opener, it takes some effort to pull the door shut - particularly in the last 1/3 of it's travel.

Is my assumption correct - should I call in the original contractor to adjust the springs. By the way I have tried to adjust the garage door opener (set screws) but to no avail. Garage door opener is a Sears brand /w rubber drive belt.

Prior to the broken spring there was never a problem closing the garage door /w the opener.

[Stubby]

Get the contractor to do the job right. Don't adjust the opener until after the door and springs are in balance. Then adjust the threshold on the opener.

[Jeff]

If your door is adjusted correctly you should be able to easily move it with one hand, make sure all the nuts on the hinges, etc are tight, and none of the rollers are binding. Sounds like the springs were not set correctly.

[Rich256]

Check the electric eyes. If they are just a bit off a little vibration can cause them to deliver an obstruction signal. I had that happen not long ago. The brackets were slightly bent.

[Joseph Meehan]

You should be able to switch to manual (usually pulling a cord) and see if the door will smoothly open and close and say open closed and at the half way mark. If not you need the springs adjusted and this should be done by the original contractor for free. It should be part of the installation. Messing with those springs can be seriously dangerous.

If the door does work properly in manual mode, then it is the opener and or it's adjustments.

[Rich]

Hello Mike,

With the door raised measure one of the springs (no loops) while the spring is completely relaxed. Measure the height of the door in inches. Divide that number by two. Add that number to the length of collapsed spring. Completely close your door, measure the length of the stretched out spring. That measurement should not exceed the total of the relaxed spring + half the door height. For example: If you have a 7' high door, half it's height would be 42" Typically a 7' high door would have a 25" spring.

42" + 25" spring = 67" So when the door is completely shut the spring should not extend more than 67". If it is extended further then you are overstretching that spring, adjust the tension until you have the proper stretch. If the door is still a bear to lower after the stretch has been adjusted. Then your springs are too strong for the door. Either get the fella who installed those springs to install the proper springs (which I doubt he will do, he will probably try to weasel his way out of it by saying that the warranty is expired.). Or you can raise the door, completely remove the tension and with the help of a friend lower the door onto a bathroom scale and get the correct weight. Then go buy the right springs base on the correct weight of the door.

Rich

[g.a.miller]

Please contact me at [e-mail] I will be able to help you when you supply me with more info Anthony at Anthony's Door Systems

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