Older chain-drive garage door openers are still found in many New Zealand homes.
Two common problems we see with ageing chain-drive openers are:
1. Control Board Failure
A faulty control board can cause the opener to behave unpredictably or stop operating altogether.
Typical symptoms may include:
- The motor does not respond when the remote is pressed
- Lights flash but the motor does not operate correctly
- The opener starts and then stops
- The door operates intermittently
- The opener does not respond consistently to commands
This type of problem is usually relatively easy for a technician to identify because the symptoms are quite obvious.
2. Gear Shaft and Sprocket Wear
Gear shaft wear is different because it usually develops gradually over many years.
In a traditional chain-drive opener, the motor and gearbox turn a shaft connected to the drive sprocket. The sprocket engages with the chain and transfers the motor’s movement to the door.
As the shaft, gears, bearings or related drive components wear, the drive assembly can develop excessive movement or run out of alignment.
One of the easiest signs for a homeowner to notice is a change in chain tension.
If the chain appears significantly looser than it used to be, particularly when compared with its original condition, this may indicate wear in the drive mechanism or a change in the position/alignment of the drive shaft and sprocket.
Chain wear itself can also contribute to increased slack, so a proper inspection is required to identify the actual cause.
Has Your Garage Door’s Opening or Closing Position Changed?
Another useful warning sign is a gradual change in the door’s opening and closing limit positions.
When an opener is correctly set up, the door should consistently stop at approximately the same fully-open and fully-closed positions.
If you notice that:
- The door no longer opens as far as it used to
- The door closes further than its original position
- The door stops slightly short of the floor
- The closing position has gradually changed
- The door appears to move differently near the end of its travel
this can indicate a problem with the opener’s drive mechanism, limit system, door balance or the mechanical relationship between the opener and the door.
On older chain-drive systems, wear in the drive shaft, gears or sprocket assembly can allow movement or positional changes within the drive system.
The opener may therefore reach a slightly different mechanical position even though the original settings have not intentionally been changed.
Why Does My Garage Door Close and Then Open Again?
One of the common questions we receive is:
“The garage door closes, but then it opens again. What’s wrong?”
There are several possible causes, including obstruction detection, incorrect limit settings, door resistance, track problems, sensor issues or an imbalance in the door.
In some cases, the door is travelling slightly beyond its intended closing position because of a change in the mechanical system or incorrect limit adjustment.
The opener can detect this as an abnormal closing condition and activate its safety reverse function, causing the door to reopen.
This is why a door that repeatedly closes and then immediately reopens should not automatically be diagnosed as a faulty motor. The door, tracks, springs, cables, limits and safety system should all be checked.
