"Help me fix" aka DIY help needed thread

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Sideshow Bob

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Creating this thread with hope that it will be useful in general

I will start with my problem.

One of my automated garage doors doesn't slide at all and I think I should give it a try to post it on forum to see if it is something simple. It is centurion motor. I have had this before and always resolved it by using Q20 on tracks and wiping it thereafter. Nada this time.

After remote key press, it makes a mild whirring noise and chain close to motor seems to move a bit but doesn't move after that initial pull. It has been probably 2 years since installation.

And yeah, garage door is not set to manual mode.

Any ideas before I call someone and spend R600 for a call out ? :-(
 
smokemaryjane said:
If you set it to manual mode, does it slide open easily? Or is there a fight back?
Click to expand...
It slid easily day before (that is when I had to close it manually) but let me recheck in a moment. Thanks.

Oh yeah - it is very smooth in manual mode.
 
Sideshow Bob said:
Creating this thread with hope that it will be useful in general

I will start with my problem.

One of my automated garage doors doesn't slide at all and I think I should give it a try to post it on forum to see if it is something simple. It is centurion motor. I have had this before and always resolved it by using Q20 on tracks and wiping it thereafter. Nada this time.

After remote key press, it makes a mild whirring noise and chain close to motor seems to move a bit but doesn't move after that initial pull. It has been probably 2 years since installation.

And yeah, garage door is not set to manual mode.

Any ideas before I call someone and spend R600 for a call out ? :-(
Click to expand...
The Q20 is where you went wrong. Spraycan lubricant is dry and does not lubricate. It evaporates and causes problems. Get the correct lubrication in there. I suspect that is not the main culprit. But yes there are overload sensors that picks up sliding resistence.
 
Magnum said:
The Q20 is where you went wrong. Spraycan lubricant is dry and does not lubricate. It evaporates and causes problems. Get the correct lubrication in there. I susect that is not the main culpret. But yes there are overload sensors that picks up sliding resistence.
Click to expand...
Eish - I dunno. I swear I used Q20 at least 2-3 times in last 12 years on the other garage door. To fix same issue really.

Q20 hack was suggested to me by one garage door guy 15+ years ago. He said dust is the one which causes the loss of contact and usually a clean wipe with a cloth sorts it out and if it doesn't, use bit of Q20 and then wipe. It worked so far but this one seems different.
 
Sideshow Bob said:
Creating this thread with hope that it will be useful in general

I will start with my problem.

One of my automated garage doors doesn't slide at all and I think I should give it a try to post it on forum to see if it is something simple. It is centurion motor. I have had this before and always resolved it by using Q20 on tracks and wiping it thereafter. Nada this time.

After remote key press, it makes a mild whirring noise and chain close to motor seems to move a bit but doesn't move after that initial pull. It has been probably 2 years since installation.

And yeah, garage door is not set to manual mode.

Any ideas before I call someone and spend R600 for a call out ? :-(
Click to expand...
model #
 
There are commonly available garage door lubricants which are similar to the consistency of grease. Try those instead.
 
Sideshow Bob said:
Creating this thread with hope that it will be useful in general

I will start with my problem.

One of my automated garage doors doesn't slide at all and I think I should give it a try to post it on forum to see if it is something simple. It is centurion motor. I have had this before and always resolved it by using Q20 on tracks and wiping it thereafter. Nada this time.

After remote key press, it makes a mild whirring noise and chain close to motor seems to move a bit but doesn't move after that initial pull. It has been probably 2 years since installation.

And yeah, garage door is not set to manual mode.

Any ideas before I call someone and spend R600 for a call out ? :-(
Click to expand...
In future, dont use Q20, use a silicon lubricant. The Q20 traps gunk. The silicon lubricant does not.
 
SDO4SMDT10 is the newer version of what we have I think, we have one of the older Xtrac systems which has proven to need some pampering over time. Biggest issues we have had is it goes through batteries more than any other garage or gate motor I have ever used and the tracks can get gunked up fairly easily.

Two suggestions, if the door slides 'easily' in manual mode...

Change the batteries to see if it helps at all even if voltages check out on the current batteries.
Take at least sand paper but preferably a wire brush on a drill to the tracks and leave lubricants/cleaners for now.
 
Sideshow Bob said:
It slid easily day before (that is when I had to close it manually) but let me recheck in a moment. Thanks.

Oh yeah - it is very smooth in manual mode.
Click to expand...

Could be a broken spring, but you need to answer the question above
 
You should not use Q20 in this application. You need to use specific grease.

Clean off the Q20 with brake cleaner spray and apply grease.

Sounds like the gear that attaches to the worm gear is worn, can you put it on manual mode, raise it, put it on auto then press button to lower it, see if it comes down or does it come down 1/2 way then fall?
 
Neuk_ said:
SDO4SMDT10 is the newer version of what we have I think, we have one of the older Xtrac systems which has proven to need some pampering over time. Biggest issues we have had is it goes through batteries more than any other garage or gate motor I have ever used and the tracks can get gunked up fairly easily.

Two suggestions, if the door slides 'easily' in manual mode...

Change the batteries to see if it helps at all even if voltages check out on the current batteries.
Take at least sand paper but preferably a wire brush on a drill to the tracks and leave lubricants/cleaners for now.
Click to expand...

Bugger, never mind me, I see the SDO4SMDT10 is a more 'typical' garage door motor, unlike our Xtrac.
 
Yeah I am on the fence regarding the type of lube to use.

Grease or grease types make a messy grinding paste situation if it traps enough dirt.
Q20 not so much, but also catches dirt.

I used a few squirts of Q5 Graphite Spray the last time around.
Q8 could also work, I guess.

I feel they are much of a muchness. Use the one that collects the least amount of dirt imo.
 
I don't think this is a lube issue. Those moptors are strong and it moves easily by hand.

I think the door may be over-extended when open. When the motor pushes against that arm, it pushes it DOWN instead of AWAY.

I have had the same issue in the past.
 
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