[surferdude2]

Sounds like the door safety sensor receiver unit has failed. They sell as a set, transmitter and receiver... about 25 bucks+-. There is no easy way to bypass them for a test... don't you just hate it when they make stuff more complex than necessary to thwart us DIY'ers.

I'd say take the $25 gamble but it's your money and your choice.

 

[rjniles]

I would replace it. I have installed a number of 1/2 HP Chamberlain chain drive units from Home Depot $128. Easy to install and very reliable. Not a lot of bells and whistles to go bad.

Sent from my RCT6A03W13E using Tapatalk

 

[bob22]

If you disconnect the door, will the traveling shuttle thing go along the track without hiccups?

 

[RAL238]

Check that the "magic eye" hasn't gotten out of alignment. They often get bumped or kicked and if they aren't aimed properly, that will prevent the GDO from working. Also make sure the lenses on both sides are clean and free of dirt.


How many times does it flash? That's often a code telling you what it thinks is wrong.

 

[ex-Khobar Andy]

"If you disconnect the door, will the traveling shuttle thing go along the track without hiccups?"


Did not try that. But all seems to be in alignment.


"Check that the "magic eye" hasn't gotten out of alignment. They often get bumped or kicked and if they aren't aimed properly, that will prevent the GDO from working. Also make sure the lenses on both sides are clean and free of dirt.

How many times does it flash? That's often a code telling you what it thinks is wrong. "



I wondered about that. Lenses are clean and both the sender and receiver lights are steady. I took that to mean that it is aligned and ready to go. It flashes constantly until I pull the plug, so no code.


I decided to go ahead and replace the whole unit with a Craftsman 1/2 HP from Lowes. $129 and looks good. The instructions could use a little work.


Thanks as always to the DIYChatroom community for the help.

 

[bob22]

If you disconnect the door, will the traveling shuttle thing go along the track without hiccups?

If up or down force isn’t adjusted right (simple adjustment) it can prevent operation. Taking door load off traveler allows testing.Good of you to help her!

 

[ex-Khobar Andy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by bob22
If you disconnect the door, will the traveling shuttle thing go along the track without hiccups?

"If up or down force isn’t adjusted right (simple adjustment) it can prevent operation. Taking door load off traveler allows testing.Good of you to help her!"


Thanks bob22: I misunderstood you. Yes, that's the first thing I tried - pulled the red cord to take the load off. Still didn't function.


Funny story. The shaft from the motor to the door comes in five pieces: you have to push them together and a series of lugs holds it together in Step 1. When I got to Step 5 I realized I had it upside down. It didn't look to me, from an engineering point of view, as if it mattered: maybe a minor appearance issue. I phoned Craftsman to check. Unfortunately it does matter - there's a little safety feature which may not work properly if it's upside down. "I'll tell you how I know" said Mr Craftsman. "The first time I put one of these together I did exactly the same thing." It would take about one additional sentence in the instructions here to make sure that idiots like me and Mr C look out for this tiny 1/4 inch feature to make sure it points up and not down. He (Mr C) will pass this on to the manual writing guys.

 

[surferdude2]

look out for this tiny 1/4 inch feature to make sure it points up and not down. He (Mr C) will pass this on to the manual writing guys.

That's probably a fail safe method that stops the shuttle if the micro-switch down limit fails. Without that, when a MS failure occurs, the motor moves the chain mounted trigger pawl on through the first wig-wag at the motor sprocket and on through the next wig-wag BACKWARDS. Damage to the plastic wig-wag can occur when that happens. I had that happen on mine (different brand than yours) and since it uses a flat track, I drilled a hole in the track 1" beyond the shuttle's farthest normal travel point and dropped a 1/4" bolt in it. I suspect it serves the same purpose as the spur on your round track.

 

[ex-Khobar Andy]

That's probably a fail safe method that stops the shuttle if the micro-switch down limit fails. Without that, when a MS failure occurs, the motor moves the chain mounted trigger pawl on through the first wig-wag at the motor sprocket and on through the next wig-wag BACKWARDS. Damage to the plastic wig-wag can occur when that happens. I had that happen on mine (different brand than yours) and since it uses a flat track, I drilled a hole in the track 1" beyond the shuttle's farthest normal travel point and dropped a 1/4" bolt in it. I suspect it serves the same purpose as the spur on your round track.

Yes I have to take this rod apart to get it the right way up. To do that I have to pry the retaining lugs back up - not sure how easy that will be. If I can't then I will do your bolt trick as Plan B.