Screw Drive Does Not Fully Open or Close

If your screw drive opener fails to fully open or close, this may mean replacing the rack, sprocket coupling or internal belt.

1. Disconnect your door by pulling down on the red rope. Verify that the door is working correctly by How to test the balance of a garage door. If the door is not already closed, move it to the closed position and unplug the unit.
2. At the top of the motor head, remove the Drive Shaft Sprocket cover if it obstructs you from seeing the rubber coupling.
3. Loosen and remove the 2 bolts which hold the rail to the motor head unit. Then only loosen, do not remove the 2 bolts that hold the motor head unit to the hanging brackets at the motor head, this will allow the unit to move back and forth. Do not loosen the bolts that hold the hanging brackets at the ceiling.
4. Remove the coupling
   • Push the motor head away from the rail as if you were going to separate them. When you have enough room, remove the rubber coupling and slide motor and rail back together.
   • While the coupling is off the unit, inspect it to make sure it has not stripped.
   • If the coupling is stripped, before replacing it proceed to step, "Resetting the system." If the coupling is not stripped proceed to "Checking and/or removing the belt."
5. Checking and removing the belt
   • Plug in the unit and return to the location where you have removed the coupling and locate both sprockets. With the coupling still off, look at the motor shaft sprocket and press your remote control.
   • At this time you should notice the motor shaft spinning. If it's spinning proceed to "Remove or Replace the rack." If it is not spinning, continue and unplug the unit.
   • If necessary use your manual to determine how to remove the cover of your unit.
   • Once the cover is removed, locate the belt and before removing notice how it is installed. You may need a screw driver to help remove the belt or reinstall the belt under the top pulley.
   • After the belt has been reinstalled, proceed to "Resetting the system."
6. Remove or replace the rack
   • Screw Drive Rack Replacement Instructions
   • Remove the straight and curved arm sections from the rail and the door.
   • Loosen the rail from the header bracket/wall bracket and have someone hold it.
   • Next, the rail bolts are already out, pull the rail off the unit and proceed to removing and replacing the rack.
   • With the rail on the floor, manually turn the screw using the sprocket at the end of the rail. If the rack does not move, place the trolley back on the rail and lock it in place. At this time using the trolley you can force the damaged rack out of the rail.
   • Hold the new rack at the end of the rail and have someone turn the sprocket to help pull the new rack in and continue to turn the screw until the rack is 1 foot from the end of the rail.
   • Replace the rail back into its position in the motor head and then the wall. "Do not install the coupling at this time."
7. Resetting the system
   1. Plug in the unit and verify the coupling has not been reinstalled. If so, remove. See "Remove the coupling."
   2. Increase both up and down travel adjustments screws until you feel them stop - don't force them once you feel resistance. These screws are white in color.
   3. Place a box or a small object between the sensors to simulate an obstruction.
   4. Press the remote control or the door control, this will simulate the unit running the sprocket counter clockwise as if it was opening your door. When the unit stops, you will hear 10 clicks, this is a signal that the sensors were obstructed and the unit is in the up position.
   5. Decrease the down travel screw by turning the screw clockwise 6 complete turns (360 degrees).
   6. Remove the obstruction from the sensors and press the remote control or the door control, this will simulate the unit running the door by having the sprocket turning clockwise to the down position. When the door stops, the unit ran itself to the closed position. Unplug the unit.
   7. Decrease the up travel screw - turn it counter clockwise 15 complete turns (360 degrees).
   8. Having already closed your door, leave it closed. With your rack in the proper position reinstall the coupling. If you rack is not in the proper position reference the step 5 in the "Remove or replace the rack" before installing the coupling.
   9. Once it reaches the inside of the trolley, put the unit back together.
      • Reinstall the coupling between the rail and the motor head.
      • Reinstall the 2 bolts that hold the motor head to the rail.
      • Tighten the 2 bolts that hold the motor head to the hanging brackets.

The garage door should now travel a majority of the way up and down. You may still need to adjust the travel screws slightly to get the garage door to travel the desired distance. Also, for further safety, it is necessary to adjust the "force" settings and test the safety reversal system. This must be accomplished whenever a change to the travel adjustments or the belt/chain has been adjusted.