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Decatur, IN on Feb 10, 2012

over head garage door question

My problem/question is were my garage door connects to the arm from the track, the bracket had two bolts that fell out and once i replaced with a slightly bigger dia ones it still seems like they are pulling out of the door. What can i do to fix this problem?

5 Comments

Steve G Fort Collins, CO

I would call in a pro for this job. Garage door tension springs and such can be really dangerous and tricky to work with.

on Feb 10, 2012 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

I assume you are talking about the garage door opener? The two bolts that hold the bracket that the arm connects to? These should be two carriage bolts that run through the entire door with nuts placed on the inside. If lag screws are being used these are not the correct items for this. A lot of pressure is placed upon this part of the door when it first pulls to open the door. The lag screws will simply pull out of the wood. ...»

A 3/8 carriage bolt about 2.5 to 3 inches long should be put through the door with the head of the bolt on the outside.
If I have what I think is correct about what is coming apart wrong, perhaps a photo of the issue may help.

on Feb 10, 2012 · Like 1
Doorsbydavid Conyers, GA

can you lift the door manually? if not, you may have a broken spring and now the door is heavy, which will cause the screws to strip out.. if door is fairly easy to open no more than lifting maybe 10 lbs. your springs are fine,
wood door uses wood lags like in statement above metal usee screw which you can add nuts to other side of metal most of the time.

on Feb 11, 2012 · Like 0
Bryan D Decatur, IN

it works fine now i did have to put a bolt from the ext to the int of the metal door and it keeps the bracket on the door panel very tight

on Feb 12, 2012 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

Bryan, If you have a lower cost metal door, you may want to consider installing a wood board along the interior side of the door at the top and fasten the operator to it. Lots of these doors begin to bend in as their springs begin to weaken and the doors become more stiff and hard to open. I have seen doors bend in half also as a result. Simply bolt a 2x4 the width of the door along the top then reconnect the operator to it.

on Feb 12, 2012 · Like 0