Issue with Craftsman Garage Door Opener

Submitted by HolyCanoliJabroni t3_yfxxxy in DIY

Hi. I have a Craftsman 1/2hp model 139.53985d manufactured in 2010 and all of a sudden last night it started acting up. When I went to close it, it went until about a foot from the ground and came back up. No clicks or light flashing. To confirm, I tried again with my foot in the way of sensor, and that immediately took the door back up and clicked and flashed 10 times. So can confirm no issue with sensor. I also confirmed that the receiving sensor is continually receiving signal the entire time (stays green). Also, this happens with the panel on the garage and the remote. My next thought was trying to move the travel farther down. That hadn’t been previously touched but I was desperate. No dice. Next to check out the mechanical parts. Took the cover off and ran the opener a few times and everything looked okay to me; gears staying in constant mesh. The change in direction is extremely sudden, makes me think electrical, maybe? Maybe the electronics board? Looking for any advice on this and if anyone has had something similar happen. Thanks

1

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

chimpyjnuts t1_iu5sxz5 wrote

They usually have a torque limiter, not sure if that flashes the light when it trips. Anything making it work harder than usual?

3

HolyCanoliJabroni OP t1_iu74c10 wrote

Thanks for your comment. It feels like it’s moving fine. But maybe I need to grease up the wheels. Anyways, this made me think that it was working a little harder, so I maxed the force it uses when closing and that worked! Doesn’t fully address the issue but that is a quick fix for now so I can at least lock my garage. I will keep looking for where it’s getting caught up. Thanks again

2

navigationallyaided t1_iu9lkg9 wrote

The gears/limit switches in a Chamberlain/Craftsman/LiftMaster opener are easily replaced and a common thing to go out.

Good call on the force adjustment - but it should be adjusted so that it reverses on a 2x4 laid flat but enough to open/close the door. Also, lube the rail, a tiny bit grease on the bottom of the T-rail(LiftMaster) or dry spray lube on the square tail(Chamberlain and Craftsman) works fine.

2

brock_lee t1_iu624z3 wrote

Did you remove the door from the opener (by pulling the release cord) and try the door manually to feel if it's binding? Have you checked the springs to make sure they are not broken? For the torsion springs, you often don't know one is broken, and when the second breaks, the door acts wonky.

My door was doing something like this a few weeks ago, and when I did it manually, I could see, hear, and feel the door was rubbing on one of the rails. Basically there is some play side to side in the door, and it had gone all the way to one side.

2

HolyCanoliJabroni OP t1_iu74qyl wrote

Hi yeah I removed the cord and couldn’t feel it binding more than usual. But then again, where it gets stuck is when the last set of wheels are fgoing past the curve. So maybe binding in there, WD40 should loosen that up I hope. Anyway, based on your comment and chimpy’s, I increased the force to close the door and that worked for now as a quick fix. Thanks a lot

1

Tek_Freek t1_iuisds5 wrote

WD40 is not a lubricant. Water Dispersal 40th attempt. NASA developed it.

1