Garage Door Maintenance Tip

 
Thread Tools
 
Old 10-20-2023, 07:41 AM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is online now
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 14,259
Thanks: 2,348
Thanked 13,739 Times in 5,253 Posts
Default Garage Door Maintenance Tip

Recently, I noticed that my garage door was making a lot more noise than usual when I opened the door. Today, I used a wet rag to clean the door gasket at the bottom of the door and the concrete floor where the gasket rests. It made a huge difference in the noise issue. Apparently, the gasket was sticking to the concrete foor and putting strain on the motor. I also sprayed all of the moving parts on the door with lithium spray-on grease, which is something I do every 3 or 4 months. I use the WD-40 brand of white lithium grease, that is available from Amazon.
 
Old 10-20-2023, 07:46 AM
petsetc petsetc is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 325
Thanks: 962
Thanked 205 Times in 87 Posts
Default

In my "up North" home I replaced the rollers with Nylon Garage Door Rollers from Amazon, made it stealth!
 
Old 10-20-2023, 07:55 AM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is online now
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 14,259
Thanks: 2,348
Thanked 13,739 Times in 5,253 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by petsetc View Post
In my "up North" home I replaced the rollers with Nylon Garage Door Rollers from Amazon, made it stealth!
If you have a Romac chain drive garage door, nylon rollers may help to reduce noise, but much of the noise is from the motor mechanism. The best way to reduce noise is to replace the door opener with a Chamberlain belt drive unit.
 
Old 10-20-2023, 08:15 AM
Topspinmo's Avatar
Topspinmo Topspinmo is offline
Sage
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Posts: 12,414
Thanks: 6,353
Thanked 4,939 Times in 2,459 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123 View Post
Recently, I noticed that my garage door was making a lot more noise than usual when I opened the door. Today, I used a wet rag to clean the door gasket at the bottom of the door and the concrete floor where the gasket rests. It made a huge difference in the noise issue. Apparently, the gasket was sticking to the concrete foor and putting strain on the motor. I also sprayed all of the moving parts on the door with lithium spray-on grease, which is something I do every 3 or 4 months. I use the WD-40 brand of white lithium grease, that is available from Amazon.
I found that grease collects dust if you don’t wipe off all the excess. Over time the roller bearings, hinges and tracks full of grit and hinges pivot points stick. I cleaned them all up with brake clean, used vise grips or pliers to get the hinge pivot points moving and very light greased wiping off all excess. Other areas of concern the lift cables fraying, hinges screws loosing over time from vibration, mud dobbers up in motor chain area, and spring shaft bearings.
 
Old 10-20-2023, 08:39 AM
MrFlorida MrFlorida is offline
Platinum member
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,522
Thanks: 93
Thanked 2,195 Times in 761 Posts
Default

Silicone spray works well on the rubber gasket seal around the door, the heat from the sun makes mine stick at times.
 
Old 10-20-2023, 10:29 AM
Byte1 Byte1 is offline
Sage
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: The Villages, FL
Posts: 2,753
Thanks: 13,983
Thanked 3,645 Times in 1,516 Posts
Default

Attaching insulation to the door panels will quieten it down a bit. Also, you can purchase rubber pads and bushings to put on the bolts that hold the ceiling mounts to the motor. But, the belt driven garage openers really are the quietest. I won't be changing mine out to a belt driven installation until my original opener finally gives up it's ghost. I am waiting for my new bottom door weather stripping to arrive from Amazon so I can replace it. Didn't realize how bad off it was until I noticed the new one a neighbor just installed. The nylon rollers are much quieter than the original steel ones.
__________________
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway
 
Old 10-21-2023, 04:12 AM
Blackbird45 Blackbird45 is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 581
Thanks: 0
Thanked 657 Times in 272 Posts
Default

Is there a service that will come in and take care of all of this?
I need the rubber strip replaced.
 
Old 10-21-2023, 04:50 AM
thelegges's Avatar
thelegges thelegges is offline
Soaring Eagle member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Drayton Plains, MI, Vietnam, Waterford, MI, Pennacamp, Fernandina, Duval, 1 retired in Richmond
Posts: 2,217
Thanks: 12
Thanked 1,588 Times in 567 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackbird45 View Post
Is there a service that will come in and take care of all of this?
I need the rubber strip replaced.
Call Romac if you want a company, little pricey but we use them for parents who just won’t use handyman. Our garage door or HVAC guy doesn’t go south to our new home, so looking for new people.
 
Old 10-21-2023, 05:35 AM
RICH1 RICH1 is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: South
Posts: 1,293
Thanks: 3,272
Thanked 1,303 Times in 561 Posts
Default

Great post … Recognizing that the Belt Drive units are extremely quiet. Nylon rollers, clean tracks, proper lubrication of cables, cable drums, and hinges will quiet these old doors… BALANCE THE DOOR will extend the life of these components.
 
Old 10-21-2023, 06:01 AM
mrf0151 mrf0151 is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 455
Thanks: 16
Thanked 362 Times in 158 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123 View Post
If you have a Romac chain drive garage door, nylon rollers may help to reduce noise, but much of the noise is from the motor mechanism. The best way to reduce noise is to replace the door opener with a Chamberlain belt drive unit.
I agree 1000% in that the belt drive is unbelievably quieter than chain driven. I just did this at our place.
 
Old 10-21-2023, 06:14 AM
eeroger eeroger is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 168
Thanks: 3
Thanked 137 Times in 81 Posts
Default Garage Door

Call Scott's Garage Door. Reasonable and is a great guy. Former firefighter. (352) 697-0321
 
Old 10-21-2023, 06:19 AM
Sheri Sheri is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: CT but looking to move to The Villages
Posts: 13
Thanks: 4
Thanked 6 Times in 3 Posts
Default

Great post addressing some of the issues I’m having with my garage door and screen. Unfortunately, I’m not very handy and could use some help.

Last edited by Sheri; 10-22-2023 at 06:29 AM.
 
Old 10-21-2023, 06:20 AM
Maker Maker is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 400
Thanks: 11
Thanked 367 Times in 154 Posts
Default

The wheels and tracks should never have any lubricant on them. The wheels must roll, not slide. If they slide then they will develop a flat spot. Once the lubricant gets contaminated with dirt, that friction causes them to roll with a loud thump thump thump. Like a bad cart in a store. Only remedy is to replace all the rollers, and degrease the tracks.

White lithium grease (and other grease with a residue that is gooey) will collect dirt and then unintentionally cause wear. There is a specifically formulated lubricant for garage door hardware that should be used.

Spots to lubricate... springs, hinges, wheel bearings, cables, opener chain (but not belt).
Looking to stop squeaks, and prevent corrosion.
 
Old 10-21-2023, 06:22 AM
Sheri Sheri is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: CT but looking to move to The Villages
Posts: 13
Thanks: 4
Thanked 6 Times in 3 Posts
Default

I just noticed that I need a new weather strip for the screen door that comes down. How do I know what type and size to buy and how do I remove the old strip and install the new one?

Last edited by Sheri; 10-22-2023 at 06:30 AM.
 
Old 10-21-2023, 06:45 AM
Nevinator Nevinator is offline
Member
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: Conroe, TX. Moving to The Villages in April 2024.
Posts: 50
Thanks: 118
Thanked 60 Times in 21 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Topspinmo View Post
I found that grease collects dust if you don’t wipe off all the excess. Over time the roller bearings, hinges and tracks full of grit and hinges pivot points stick. I cleaned them all up with brake clean, used vise grips or pliers to get the hinge pivot points moving and very light greased wiping off all excess. Other areas of concern the lift cables fraying, hinges screws loosing over time from vibration, mud dobbers up in motor chain area, and spring shaft bearings.
Yes, after cleaning with brake clean, lubricate the chain with a silicon bicycle chain grease that is sold in local bike shops. This Lube will not collect much grease and dirt.
 

Tags
door, gasket, garage, concrete, lithium
Thread Tools

You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. Click here to revert to the old version.

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:22 AM.