GDO broken: repair or replace

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Jun 21st, 2022 7:22 am

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Mar 17th, 2022 4:03 pm

chimaican [OP]: Deal Expert; Oct 23, 2008; 17499 posts; 15553 upvotes; GTA, ON

Mar 17th, 2022 4:03 pm

GDO broken: repair or replace

My Chamberlain garage door opener just broke. The trolley moves about 6" and then stops. After diagnosing the issue with the error code, looks like the RPM sensor has failed.

I tried unplugging to see if it would reset but it won't.

I looked up the part through the company and it's shipped from California. After all said and done it would cost $52.xx CAD for the part. That seems kind of steep. The GDO is from the original owner of the home, so I imagine it would be going on 17yrs now. I checked elsewhere like eBay & Amazon and after S&H plus taxes, seems to be around the same $50-60.

Wondering if it's better just to buy a new unit?
Or recommendations where I could get a replacement apart (GTA) for less?

Tis banana is IRIE 😎

10% off is cold, 50% off is warm, 75% off is hot, but FREE IS RFD!

23 replies

Mar 17th, 2022 4:13 pm

teoconca: Deal Guru; Oct 16, 2008; 10290 posts; 4553 upvotes; Maple

Mar 17th, 2022 4:13 pm

Replace, enjoy new one.

Not sure if it's still available.
costco-chamberlain-b4603tc-garage-door- ... 2526807/2/

...

+1

Mar 17th, 2022 4:28 pm

chimaican [OP]: Deal Expert; Oct 23, 2008; 17499 posts; 15553 upvotes; GTA, ON

Mar 17th, 2022 4:28 pm

teoconca wrote: ↑ Replace, enjoy new one.

Not sure if it's still available.
costco-chamberlain-b4603tc-garage-door- ... 2526807/2/

Thanks. Kind of sucks it broke. Who wants to spend extra cash?

I will drive over to Costco tomorrow and see if they still carry it. I hope this is quieter than the one currently installed (my son's bedroom is above the garage.)

Since I'm replacing and all the brackets are already on the roof, I imagine it should be easy to install.

Tis banana is IRIE 😎

10% off is cold, 50% off is warm, 75% off is hot, but FREE IS RFD!

+1

Mar 17th, 2022 4:29 pm

l69norm: Deal Expert; Jun 12, 2007; 19225 posts; 6281 upvotes; London

Mar 17th, 2022 4:29 pm

chimaican wrote: ↑ My Chamberlain garage door opener just broke. The trolley moves about 6" and then stops. After diagnosing the issue with the error code, looks like the RPM sensor has failed.

I tried unplugging to see if it would reset but it won't.

I looked up the part through the company and it's shipped from California. After all said and done it would cost $52.xx CAD for the part. That seems kind of steep. The GDO is from the original owner of the home, so I imagine it would be going on 17yrs now. I checked elsewhere like eBay & Amazon and after S&H plus taxes, seems to be around the same $50-60.

Wondering if it's better just to buy a new unit?
Or recommendations where I could get a replacement apart (GTA) for less?

Check to see if it's skipping a tooth on the plastic gear inside. A worn out plastic gear is a common issue.

+2

Mar 17th, 2022 4:34 pm

teoconca: Deal Guru; Oct 16, 2008; 10290 posts; 4553 upvotes; Maple

Mar 17th, 2022 4:34 pm

chimaican wrote: ↑ Thanks. Kind of sucks it broke. Who wants to spend extra cash?

I will drive over to Costco tomorrow and see if they still carry it. I hope this is quieter than the one currently installed (my son's bedroom is above the garage.)

Since I'm replacing and all the brackets are already on the roof, I imagine it should be easy to install.

Should be simple for replacing. Good luck.

Waiting for mine to bite the dust, 20 years old LiftMater belt.

...

Mar 17th, 2022 5:27 pm

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 19954 posts; 23530 upvotes; GTA

Mar 17th, 2022 5:27 pm

chimaican wrote: ↑ My Chamberlain garage door opener just broke. The trolley moves about 6" and then stops. After diagnosing the issue with the error code, looks like the RPM sensor has failed.

I tried unplugging to see if it would reset but it won't.

I looked up the part through the company and it's shipped from California. After all said and done it would cost $52.xx CAD for the part. That seems kind of steep. The GDO is from the original owner of the home, so I imagine it would be going on 17yrs now. I checked elsewhere like eBay & Amazon and after S&H plus taxes, seems to be around the same $50-60.

Wondering if it's better just to buy a new unit?
Or recommendations where I could get a replacement apart (GTA) for less?

Take it apart and have a look inside after unplugging. Could be something simple like debris, loose/broken wire, or a broken bracket that you could epoxy or 3D print.

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

+1

Mar 17th, 2022 7:13 pm

tebore: Deal Guru; Feb 9, 2006; 13045 posts; 7857 upvotes; Brampton

Mar 17th, 2022 7:13 pm

Give chamberlain a call first.
Won't cost you anything and you never know what they'll do for you.

Mar 18th, 2022 3:24 pm

chimaican [OP]: Deal Expert; Oct 23, 2008; 17499 posts; 15553 upvotes; GTA, ON

Mar 18th, 2022 3:24 pm

@teoconca

I just found that my Costco still has them.

Any large significant differences in quality between Chamberlain and Craftsman? Both made by Chamberlain except Craftsman used to be the Sears rebrand.

Craftsman 1/2HP Belt w/ keypad on sale $280
Chamberlain 3/4HP Belt NO keypad. $290 (keypad additional $52 from Amazon)

Tis banana is IRIE 😎

10% off is cold, 50% off is warm, 75% off is hot, but FREE IS RFD!

+1

Mar 19th, 2022 1:49 pm

Kevin711: Sr. Member; Jan 7, 2006; 729 posts; 457 upvotes; Toronto

Mar 19th, 2022 1:49 pm

I have a open box but never used Chamberlain B503c (belt driven), contents are complete . If you're interested, I'll let it go for a good price.

I was going to install it, opened the box to prep, climbed up to remove the old opener and found a wire popped off. I was past the return period.

+1

Mar 19th, 2022 2:24 pm

teoconca: Deal Guru; Oct 16, 2008; 10290 posts; 4553 upvotes; Maple

Mar 19th, 2022 2:24 pm

chimaican wrote: ↑ @teoconca

I just found that my Costco still has them.

Any large significant differences in quality between Chamberlain and Craftsman? Both made by Chamberlain except Craftsman used to be the Sears rebrand.

Craftsman 1/2HP Belt w/ keypad on sale $280
Chamberlain 3/4HP Belt NO keypad. $290 (keypad additional $52 from Amazon)

Good.

Based on what I read, the old days, Chamberlain were manufactured and sold by retailers. LiftMaster were manufactured and sold to non-retail (only installers could get). Chamberlain, LiftMaster, Craftsman were manufactured by Chamberlain. It does not applying now. Craftman were manufactured for Sears (Lowes now).

The size and weight for your garage door may matter.

Good luck.

...

+1

Mar 19th, 2022 3:59 pm

chimaican [OP]: Deal Expert; Oct 23, 2008; 17499 posts; 15553 upvotes; GTA, ON

Mar 19th, 2022 3:59 pm

teoconca wrote: ↑ Based on what I read, the old days, Chamberlain were manufactured and sold by retailers. LiftMaster were manufactured and sold to non-retail (only installers could get). Chamberlain, LiftMaster, Craftsman were manufactured by Chamberlain. It does not applying now. Craftman were manufactured for Sears (Lowes now).

At Rona right now (which is Lowes).

According to the box, it is still Chamberlain but Craftsman is now registered trademark of Black & Decker.

Images

Tis banana is IRIE 😎

10% off is cold, 50% off is warm, 75% off is hot, but FREE IS RFD!

+1

Mar 19th, 2022 4:37 pm

teoconca: Deal Guru; Oct 16, 2008; 10290 posts; 4553 upvotes; Maple

Mar 19th, 2022 4:37 pm

chimaican wrote: ↑ At Rona right now (which is Lowes).

According to the box, it is still Chamberlain but Craftsman is now registered trademark of Black & Decker.

Should be much quieter than chain!

...

+1

Mar 19th, 2022 10:16 pm

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 19954 posts; 23530 upvotes; GTA

Mar 19th, 2022 10:16 pm

teoconca wrote: ↑ Should be much quieter than chain!

From what I've seen there isn't a huge noise difference between chain and belt. My belt opener is still pretty loud. I drastically improved it by decoupling from the ceiling and door header with a less rigid mount (rubber or cork, in my case, I used multi layer rubber/cork material).
Also lubing the springs and tracks.

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

+2

Mar 19th, 2022 10:27 pm

teoconca: Deal Guru; Oct 16, 2008; 10290 posts; 4553 upvotes; Maple

Mar 19th, 2022 10:27 pm

engineered wrote: ↑ From what I've seen there isn't a huge noise difference between chain and belt. My belt opener is still pretty loud. I drastically improved it by decoupling from the ceiling and door header with a less rigid mount (rubber or cork, in my case, I used multi layer rubber/cork material).
Also lubing the springs and tracks.

Lubing the tracks help, from noise perspective and longevity from weather, wear and tear.

...

+1

Mar 19th, 2022 11:07 pm

ilikerfd21: Newbie; Nov 18, 2021; 70 posts; 58 upvotes

Mar 19th, 2022 11:07 pm

The noise reduction wasn’t as significant as I thought it’d be when I switched from chain to belt…but the greatest improvement was the elimination of any rattling/vibration when the chain GDO was in use (have a bedroom above the garage, so this difference/improvement was felt immediately).

Mar 19th, 2022 11:09 pm

chimaican [OP]: Deal Expert; Oct 23, 2008; 17499 posts; 15553 upvotes; GTA, ON

Mar 19th, 2022 11:09 pm

I will buy lithium grease tomorrow and spray / lube up all the bearing, track and springs.

Thanks guys.

Tis banana is IRIE 😎

10% off is cold, 50% off is warm, 75% off is hot, but FREE IS RFD!

+1

Mar 19th, 2022 11:26 pm

ilikerfd21: Newbie; Nov 18, 2021; 70 posts; 58 upvotes

Mar 19th, 2022 11:26 pm

chimaican wrote: ↑ I will buy lithium grease tomorrow and spray / lube up all the bearing, track and springs.

Thanks guys.

It’s generally advised NOT to lube the tracks (just thoroughly clean any dirt/debris).

Lube any hinges, springs or ball bearings if you have steel rollers.

Lithium grease is recommended by many, but I personally prefer silicone lubricant (it does drip a lot, but I soak up any excess on paper towel).

+1

Mar 20th, 2022 12:23 am

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 19954 posts; 23530 upvotes; GTA

Mar 20th, 2022 12:23 am

Yea, it's not the tracks themselves that lube, it's the rollers where they meet the brackets that hold them. Switching to nylon rollers does a lot to quiet the tracks.

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

+1

Mar 20th, 2022 9:05 am

chimaican [OP]: Deal Expert; Oct 23, 2008; 17499 posts; 15553 upvotes; GTA, ON

Mar 20th, 2022 9:05 am

Can't decide between the Chamberlain or the Craftsman.

Tis banana is IRIE 😎

10% off is cold, 50% off is warm, 75% off is hot, but FREE IS RFD!

Mar 20th, 2022 10:16 am

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 19954 posts; 23530 upvotes; GTA

Mar 20th, 2022 10:16 am

chimaican wrote: ↑ Can't decide between the Chamberlain or the Craftsman.

Did you open then GDO to see if you can repair it easily?

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

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