door opener drive sprocket problem

[JADEMAN4U]

Does anyone know if either of the following can cause damage to the drive spocket without it being previously worn (ie; new or near new installed garage door).
1. An obvious and visable misalignment in the newly installed tracts by the installer.
2. Force settings on the garage door opener set to maximum in conjuction with an obvious misaligned door tracts.

Reason: Purchased new garage door with origional opener (Sears 1/2 hp chain driven which has never been used because I have a dog). The installer only connected the door to the opener and spent over 30 minutes just trying to get the settings right for some reason. Three (3) days later the door got stuck midway and I was told the opener sprocket was bad from being worn (even though it was used only for a few months), and I was given estimates of $200 to fix and $400 for new opener. but he would put the $240 dollars "SERVICE CHARGE" towards the work. I refused and went to another company and replaced the door opener. This technician before putting in the opener saw and pointed out the obvious misalignment in the frame (bottom of door allows light to pass through on one side and is about 3 inches higher than the closed opposite bottom edge. Therefore; can issues 1 and 2 above have caused the sprocket or other relate damage inside the opener??? Thank you, JADEMAN4U Note: this door did not have safety sensors at the time it broke. Simply, upon opening, the door got stuck midway and the opener just continued to hum until I turned it of.

[HayZee518]

both tracks need to be plumb and parallel with each other before allowing any door travel. the counterweight spring(s) need to be tensioned to allow free travel of the door. the door limit switches are always adjusted for minimum pressure to reverse direction (current limiting relays) for the down direction. sensor lights are there for a reason don't use without them. the sproket may be made of hylon or steel and a nylon bushing and repeated motor torque stripped out the gear. it is highly unlikely that the chain or the sprocket teeth would wear to the point of failure after "just a few months" of service.

[gdoorpro]

It is a very common problem with chamberlain operators for the drive sprocket to wear out, it sounds like your operator was installed prior to 1995 so it is an old unit. Many people have had to replace their gears a couple times in that period. It is however avoidable.

My company sells belt drive operators made by Chamberlain, which are the same as sears operators. The reason we don't like the chain drive, which from over ten years in the industry I can deduct that you have, is that their are many things that can go wrong, especially with a homeowner installation.

Proper chain tension will enhance the lifespan of your internal gears. The problem is homeowners falsely believe that the chain should not sag at all and overtighten the chain causing the sprocket collar to wear out and sometimes causing the chain to actually jump the sprocket.

A floor that is unlevel and requires a higher force setting to seal the floor will shorten the life span of the drive gear and worm gear. If you were to lubricate these gears every six months or so they will last longer. Some of the newer models have enclosed gear drives to keep the lubrication in the gear box, instead of out in the open where it can dry up and flake off of the gears.

Some garage door manufacturers use a stiffer more rigid bottom seal that requires more force to seal the floor, this also wears out operator gears faster.

Force settings should always be set to a minimum, this requires monthly maintenace, and the homeowners I have dealt with rarely do this, even though all garage door operator manufacturers instruct homeowners to do so.

So the answer to your question is yes, if you have misaligned track that causes the door to not operate smoothly in manual operation this can shorten life span of your gears. Higher force settings also shortens life span of gears.

However, given the age of the unit, even though you may have had a somewhat unexperienced installer, your gears were probably shot before he arrived. Unless they were inspected prior to the work being done, proving otherwise.

Experienced installers and service proffessionals look for this kind of thing and are not likely to waste 30 minutes on operator settings.

To anyone thinking about replacing a door but not an operator, especially one over 10 years old, have the company to an internal visual inspection of the garage door opener. If you are buying a good quality door it may weigh more than your old door and take more force, but if it is sprung properly (balanced) it should run smoothly. And since your operator merely guides the door, it does not really lift the door (the springs should do this), Your door operation is the most important factor in operator life span.

Sears operators are mostly homeowner installed, and even when installed professionally, not always done so by people in the garage door business, who know how to adjust and service garage doors. So if you are going to use any big box store to install your operator, we suggest you make sure they know garage door service as well as how to install the opener.

Ryan

[gdoorpro]

It is a very common problem with chamberlain operators for the drive sprocket to wear out, it sounds like your operator was installed prior to 1995 so it is an old unit. Many people have had to replace their gears a couple times in that period. It is however avoidable.

My company sells belt drive operators made by Chamberlain, which are the same as sears operators. The reason we don't like the chain drive, which from over ten years in the industry I can deduct that you have, is that their are many things that can go wrong, especially with a homeowner installation.

Proper chain tension will enhance the lifespan of your internal gears. The problem is homeowners falsely believe that the chain should not sag at all and overtighten the chain causing the sprocket collar to wear out and sometimes causing the chain to actually jump the sprocket.

A floor that is unlevel and requires a higher force setting to seal the floor will shorten the life span of the drive gear and worm gear. If you were to lubricate these gears every six months or so they will last longer. Some of the newer models have enclosed gear drives to keep the lubrication in the gear box, instead of out in the open where it can dry up and flake off of the gears.

Some garage door manufacturers use a stiffer more rigid bottom seal that requires more force to seal the floor, this also wears out operator gears faster.

Force settings should always be set to a minimum, this requires monthly maintenace, and the homeowners I have dealt with rarely do this, even though all garage door operator manufacturers instruct homeowners to do so.

So the answer to your question is yes, if you have misaligned track that causes the door to not operate smoothly in manual operation this can shorten life span of your gears. Higher force settings also shortens life span of gears.

However, given the age of the unit, even though you may have had a somewhat unexperienced installer, your gears were probably shot before he arrived. Unless they were inspected prior to the work being done, proving otherwise.

Experienced installers and service proffessionals look for this kind of thing and are not likely to waste 30 minutes on operator settings.

To anyone thinking about replacing a door but not an operator, especially one over 10 years old, have the company to an internal visual inspection of the garage door opener. If you are buying a good quality door it may weigh more than your old door and take more force, but if it is sprung properly (balanced) it should run smoothly. And since your operator merely guides the door, it does not really lift the door (the springs should do this), Your door operation is the most important factor in operator life span.

Sears operators are mostly homeowner installed, and even when installed professionally, not always done so by people in the garage door business, who know how to adjust and service garage doors. So if you are going to use any big box store to install your operator, we suggest you make sure they know garage door service as well as how to install the opener.

Ryan