Removing Or Replacing The Chain On A Garage Door Opener

[@melolson5153]

Great information! I too really appreciated the information relating to having the opener in the proper position.

[@mdubault]

Great Info - in no other videos was it mentioned about having the opener in the open or closed position when positioning the trolley. Mine was way out of whack travel wise. I had hoped there was some way of resetting the opener to the open postion without removing the new chain. At least you covered that. And then it all made sense. Thanks

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

Glad to help (:

[@Peter926545]

Thanks...I was able to troubleshoot my chain problem from your video.

[@CHEECHMUN]

Thank you. The instructions were trash. It never told me to put the trolly near the motor. I could not wrap the chain around the sprocket with the trolly on the opposite end. Thank you again. Chamberline should hire you!!!

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

😂🙏🏻

[@CHEECHMUN]

@@GarageDoorGuidance It was a Craftsman opener. Thanks again.

[@vampiroast]

Thank you very well explained! When I was tighten up the chain (the outer nut) I noticed too late that the chain twisted a little bit at the first link, I loosen up a little but the link is still twisted, should I keep loosing up the outer nut until the chain is too loose so I can untwist the link ?? Also where did you the gloves? Thanks!

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

You untwist at about any point, no need to loosen it up all the way 👍🏻

[@jameswaters3599]

Thank you for making this video. Somehow the carrier plate got stuck at the front of the travel. I was able to remove the chain and reset the travel. Now it works well.

[@worldpeace8187]

Great Tutorial DIY!! So if my chain broke there is no way to repair it? Thanks again 😊

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

You can take apart the links and re build them back together but it is a PAIN and need the chain link tool ( cyclists usually have this )

[@susensakal6600]

Hi did you tell the position of the door when you installed the chains?

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

I like to remove the chain, then press the button to let the motor spin. While it’s spinning I “trip” the safety sensors by stepping in front of them. The motor will automatically reverse and go to the “open” position. The motor will only do that if it’s moving in the “down” position. The sensors won’t trip if it’s rotating in the “up” position which would also tell you that the carriage / trolley should be at the back Hope that made sense

[@eleazarcassis2870]

can you use a taller chain ? same pitch and link length, just taller than the original part

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

If I had to guess it may slip off the chain but could be wrong

[@batcrazysa3189]

My opener has a spindle on both the motor end and the door end. My question is placement of the new chain on the two sprockets. Should the slack be equal on both sides before putting it on the motor end and before tightening? If not, how does one determine the correct position of the chain on the door end and the motor end before tightening? I haven't found a single video that mentions this issue.

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

The end at the garage door side should spin freely, as you tighten the slack will even out. One side might be tighter than the other but that will likely be because of the position of the carriage. Your main question is where does the trolley belong before putting the chain back on and tightening it. I usually “trip” the sensors by pressing the button and walking in front of them so the motor will travel to the fully open position. Then your carriage belongs at the back ( by the motor head ). Put the chain on, tighten it and from there you will make your minor adjustments with the limit knobs

[@batcrazysa3189]

@@GarageDoorGuidance Not asking about the trolly. I was only asking about the chain (Mine is a full chain not a chain/cable). My openers are from 1975 so no sensors (probably need to put some on to be code complient). I'll try what I think you are tell me: It's ok tat all the slack in the chain, before I put the chain back on to the sprocket, can hang down only on the right side. I will face the garage door as I stand on my ladder that is positioned behind the motor so I can put the chain back on the sprocket (motor spindle). Then tighten the chain until the slack is gone and chain is tight again.

[@pieterruiter1749]

Nicely done.

[@networth8754]

Do you replace garage door chains as preventative maintenance after the chain is a certain age or do you just inspect, lubricate and use the existing chain? How long could I expect a garage door chain to last?

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

To be completely honest I’ve only had to change about 2 chains in my 8 years

[@networth8754]

@@GarageDoorGuidance Thanks. I would presume the chains you replaced were probably the result of either lack for proper lubrication or improper tension leading to excessive wear.

[@alexvillanueva3071]

YOU ARE THE BEST 🙏👏🍻

[@buckytom8]

Hey Andre , Great video ! Thanks for keeping it simple and understandable yet thorough. How exactly do you determine weather you have a 7 or 8 foot door . Seems obvious but my overall actual door height is in between 7-8 feet tall.

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

You likely have a 7’6 door. You would need to determine if your garage door opens up all the way or if it rests 6 inches lower than the opening when the opener has it fully “opened”. The opener rails / chains are only made in 7 or 8 ft.

[@buckytom8]

@@GarageDoorGuidance New chain and cable worked fine but I seem to have too much extra chain and slack. Ive cranked the tightener down as far as it will go. Any other suggestions to remove slack in the whole line? When door is closed its way past the 1/2 inch drooping.

[@landscapevision6553]

@@buckytom8 Same here, it appears to be a common problem..

[@stevenoliveri2023]

Just measure your door from top to bottom!!

[@Darrylx444]

Thank you very much.

[@dankobe4694]

Hi there, enjoyed the video. My opener has a loud clicking noise coming from the trolley. Any thoughts on what the issue might be? Door still opens and closes. The clicking noise follows the trolley as it moves so I’m confident that’s the source of problem.

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

Is it still in certain sections of travel or consistent ?

[@dankobe4694]

@@GarageDoorGuidance it is consistent thru the open and close cycles.

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

Can you email me a photo or video ? ( my website has email info )

[@bs9669]

The only thing I felt like you didn’t say was to finish the video by letting me know how tight to put the new chain. And can you just keep retightening them until they just break some day or will it make some ridiculous noises before breaking?

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

I don’t remember saying it or not but usually about as tight as a bicycle chain, when the chain losens over the years it typically indicates a breaking / shifting gear. Tightening it after that fact speeds up that process of the gear fully breaking so I normally tell people to leave it be

[@rhilsabeck1]

Very clear and the hi-res. is super helpful!

[@marcia7182]

excellent....thanks!

[@dawsondm1]

Thank you very much!

[@thomasmaffucci3272]

Cool!!! Thanks !!!!

[@thanhtran-huynh5979]

Great thanks

[@darrellclaire5090]

Our chain broke when we mistakenly opened our Chamberlain door with the locks employed. So a nice fellow named Arnold came out, and a whole new assembly later, he mentioned that our door isn't well-sealed from the outside elements. "He'll be back."

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

Hmm

[@w4baham]

Installed new gears/kit today. Shaft/sprocket had worn into and the sprocket had fell off. Reattached the chain with garage door down. Garage door opener will only travel about 8" and then it reverses itself and stops. I detached one of the door sensors (the type located near the floor) and it just clicked 2 or 3 times, as it should. The "manual" lever/rope is disengaged to the "carriage" on the chain is free to move the "carriage" either up or down. It is a LiftMaster by Chamberlain and 1/3 HP, about 17 years old. I have replaced the mother board twice due to power surges (lightning). Any suggestions as to what the problem might be?

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

Don Putman it’s gotta have something to do with the limit switch, or possibly the rpm sensor. Hard to tell you what is really happening in your particular situation without being there or seeing anything :/

[@Renrondog]

When you reinstalled the chain on the sprocket it wasn't in the correct location / trolley position in relation to the position of the limiting switches. (the lifter motor thinks the door is 2/3 open and the door is closed) readjust the chain position on the sprocket when the trolley is in the closed location. Do this by running the motor in door closing direction until it hits the (previously adjusted before it broke) limiting switch on the motor gear box. Set the trolley to the closed position, now attach the chain to the drive sprocket. Adjust limiters and your done. I have the exact same problem. My drive gear motor shaft broke and I had to start from scratch with the door positioning. Hope this helps someone in the future. I would hope yours is working properly by now.

[@CPCdrummer]

@@Renrondog Thanks for your help but I''m still having a problem even after resetting the chain postion twice. In the up postion the trolley stops about 12 inches before the stop bolt on the rail. Not enough range on the adjuster pots so How do I know exactly where to put the trolley before putting the chain back on the sprocket? DUH ...HELP!!

[@susensakal6600]

I had to cut short never watched the video too many ads

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

Should only be one ad at the start?

[@allanherpin-bx4ox]

ok thanks, but now my trolley won’t return to base so to speak

[@GarageDoorGuidance]

Take the chain off the gear, move the carriage by pulling the chain to the “up” position. Leave the chain off, press the button and try to step on front of the sensors to “trip” them. When you do this the motor will reverse and go to the fully opened position. Now you can put the chain back on and you should be able to make small adjustments using the limit switches to fine tune it

[@allanherpin-bx4ox]

That did it!! Thanks!!