Liftmaster, the manufacturer of Craftsman garage door openers, has made it easy for homeowners to adjust the units if necessary. There are five adjustments that should be checked at least once a year. By doing it yourself, you can save money on service calls and extend the life of your unit. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Up and Down Limits
1. Open the garage door fully by pressing the wall control button. The bottom section of the door should be right at the header in the "full open" position. If it is too far back, the door cable can become misaligned. If it is not back far enough, you may not be able to get your vehicle in and out of the garage.
2. Position a stepladder behind the garage door opener motor. Locate the limit adjusting screws on the left side of the motor housing. Have a friend stand by the wall control button.
3. Insert a screwdriver into the slot for the "up limit" adjustment screw. Turn it to the right to decrease the door travel and turn it to the left to increase it. Turn the screw in small increments.
4. Close the garage door by having your helper push the wall control button. Notice the seal between the door and the floor--there should not be any light coming through. Adjust the "down limit" screw in the same way if necessary.
5. Operate the door by the pressing the wall button and check your adjustments.
Up Force and Down Force
6. Open the garage door by having a friend push the wall control button. While the door is going up, grab the bottom section and apply downward pressure. The door should stop. If it does not, the "up force" limit switch needs to be adjusted.
7. Place a piece of wood under the garage door while the door is open. Have a friend operate the door using the wall control button. When the door comes in contact with the wood, the door should stop and then reverse. If it does not, the "down force" limit switch needs to be adjusted.
8. Locate the up and down force adjustment knobs on the back of the opener motor. Adjust the knobs in the same way the limits were adjusted in Step 3 and Step 4. Repeat the previous two steps to check your adjustments.
Chain
9. Inspect the chain on the door opener. If it is too slack, it will slap around and could possibly slip off the main drive gear. If it is too tight, it could possibly set off the up and down force limits unnecessarily.
10. Close the garage door by pushing the wall station button. Pull down on the emergency release rope to release the door from the door opener carriage.
11. Locate the adjustment bolt on the carriage. To adjust the chain, use a 9/16-inch wrench to move the adjusting nuts in either direction.
12. Tighten the chain by turning the rear adjustment nut counterclockwise and the front adjusting nut clockwise. To loosen the chain, reverse the procedure.
13. Open the door opener fully after adjustment using the wall control button. Manually lift the garage door until it locks into position on the door opener carriage.
Tags: garage door, control button, wall control, wall control button, door opener, door should, down force