Garage door playing up
 

On pressing the OPEN button my garage door raised about a foot then seemed to jam, accompanied by loud clankings and growlings from the machinery.

I can still open and close the door manually.

Any idea what might be wrong, and is it a DIY repair?

Any recommendations for someone who can fix it?

Thank you

Sounds like you have the door which has teeth on the horizontal rail which mesh with the teeth on the latch. The latch is that thing which has the rope hanging from it. My guess the teeth in the latch are stripped.

If you pull the rope (or latch handle), the teeth should disengage and you should be able to move the door up or down manually.

Now your choice is to go to call Ace hardware and ask if they have a replacement latch. Or you could call the Villages warranty dept. to get the name of the company which installed your door. The latch will cost about $20.
If the door is not on warranty, a garage door repair company will charge you about $100 for parts and labor.

ps. It's another story if you have a chain driven door. In this case you can still disengage the latch and move the door manually until you can get it repaired - unless the door is off the track, which is ANOTHER story.

sorry, I'm starting to laugh now...

Thank you - your initial assessment sounds spot on

I have John Wharton (Handieman Service) coming round later so your advice will help speed his repair

Just found out it is a chain-driven opener

door goes up and down manually okay, and using motor with manual assistance, so could it be a slipping belt or clutch within the motor?

Can anyone recommend Branch as a good garage-door-opener-fixer

thank you

Branch ??? or Brand. If brand, get a Genie.... from Home Depot

Take a look at the Long Spring that runs along the top of the door look closely to see if its broken. If it is call a garage door service company before you change the opener. I hope this helps. Len

Thank you for your help and advice, everyone

I called Branch Garage Doors - 352-394-5669 - and they came within an hour

A large plastic cog within the motor had disintegrated

Cost to replace cog, and oil mechanism - $130

glad to hear you solved your problem, just curious, did you buy a new house and if so how long had you lived there when you had this issue....gn

Call Ro-Mac Lumber on Rolling Acres Road, they usually have an ad in the Daily Sun, and are about $49 or $59 to check out and adjust garage doors.


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I have used Branch on two occasions. Once to repair the exact problem mentioned in this post. The second time was to replace the springs after one broke. Very pleased with their response and repair.