Why does my garage

expert EXPERT May 22, 2007

Your profile showed two different age openers, an older one and a recent one. I am not sure which one is jerking but in either case it is more likely an issue with the door than the opener itself. You could tell for sure by releasing the door from the opener with the red pull rope, you will most likely see that the opener runs smoothly along the full range once the door is removed.

Provided the motor operates at a steady rate, any jerking is probably caused by binding or drag or misalignment of the door assembly changing the loads the opener works against. There could also be some clearance issues with the door that only occur when the opener is pulling the door from above and not when you lift it by hand to check the door balance.

If your door has extension springs running alongside the door rails on the ceiling, the pulleys those springs attach to are a common source of jerking. Any build up or dryness on the pulleys causes inconsistent turning and altars spring loads side-to-side. If you have torsion style springs across the top of your door a similar problem can occur if the springs coils stick to each other or the shaft binds in the bushings on the ends or the center.

If you had a new door installed with your newest opener, it could be that fresh paint at the door seams sticks overnight and then pops apart as each panel begins to rotate up and separate from those below it. Older doors can act the same way if their hinges are sticking or too dry.

Clear away any build-up with a little WD40, then lube any pivots, bushings, or pulleys with a light lithium grease such as the spray style ones available at auto parts stores. It may sound too simple to be true, but in the vast majority of cases some careful cleaning and lube will dramatically smooth and quiet the door opening.