Garage door opener gear will not turn when motor engaged?

HVAC & Fireplace Bucket EXPERT April 28, 2008

You can determine if the problem is in the door or the opener itself fairly quickly. Pull the release rope see image below and then try the opener again. If the trolley now moves without resistance the issue is in the door or the hinges or rollers for it.

If the door is weighted and balanced correctly, you should be able to lift it by hand once it is disconnected from the opener. And the door should stay open on its own if you release it at about the 1/2 open position. Any binding or resistance can often be cured by lubing the rollers on the door edges or the hinges on the door or even spraying lube on the springs themselves, but if the door is just too heavy you will need to consult a professional to adjust the weight and balance as it is too dangerous to adjust yourself.

If the trolley still will not move, then you may need to remove some of the covers and start a visual inspection looking for any point of damage or binding. It can take some time but most times the problem will be in the lift chain or the gear and sprocket assembly it connects to as the motors rarely fail. Looking at the parts illustrations in the Owner's Manual will give you a better idea where the components are at. The Gear and Sprocket are shown as item 3 below.