Plastic gears and sprockets in garage door openers wear out over time.
If your garage door opener is not working properly, you may need to replace the gear and sprocket assembly. The gear and sprocket in the Sears Craftsman garage door opener unit are made of plastic and eventually wear out. Replacement will take anywhere from one to three hours depending on how accessible your motor unit is. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Disconnect the power to the garage door opener. To avoid possible electric shock, unplug the cord from the outlet. The garage door motor is usually plugged into the outlet closest to the unit.
2. Get on your ladder and check the clearance. See if there is enough space between the garage door motor unit and the ceiling for you to remove and replace parts. If there is not enough room, the entire motor assembly, including the chain, may need to be removed. Another option you can try but is not recommended is to unscrew the hanging brackets so the assembly hangs lower. If you choose this option, the weight of the motor must be supported by something else for you to work on it. It is safer to just remove the motor unit and work on the floor.
3. Take off the sprocket cover from the motor. You can find the sprocket cover at the top of the motor unit near the chain trolley. Look for the part on the motor where the chain loops. Right in front of that you will see the round sprocket cover for your garage door opener. You will also know it is the sprocket cover because it is the only round, white plastic part on top of the motor assembly. The sprocket cover can be removed by squeezing it between your thumb and index finger, turning it counterclockwise and pulling up.
4. Manually loosen the chain at the trolley shaft and remove it from the sprocket. Lay the chain to the side. Unscrew the sprocket screws and remove. There will be three screws that hold the assembly in place. Pull the gear and sprocket assembly out of the motor unit.
5. Install the new the assembly. Your Craftsman garage door kit will have a pre-assembled gear and sprocket unit that can be placed in where the old one was taken out. Put the new assembly in and replace the chain and screws. Then put the cap back on by pinching, pushing down and turning clockwise.
6. Tighten the chain to the manufacturer's specification and reconnect power to the garage door opener.
Tags: garage door, motor unit, sprocket cover, door opener, garage door opener, chain trolley, Craftsman garage