Magnaglide air lift problem

[SuperClean]

I'm waiting for my door guy to get back to me but has anyone ever had there magnaglide not be able to hold the door. Mine will lift the door about 2 ft and then drop it. I never thought that the magnets in the drive and the ones in the door would ever come apart. Now I'm kinda scared even when they fix it to think that a 500PD door could get dropped on a car. If you have had this problem and know what the problem is let me know. I know what my dreams will be now.

 

[Whale of a Wash]

I have had that happen a couple of times.. hopefully the stainless is clean, if not use JB80. Im guessing 5 years old. At that age maybe new $30 seals, the magnaglides tend to gather rust inside and then decouple and then run on just one magnet and then decouple sometimes. Your door should have a neutral weight if door is installed correctly with springs or counterbalances, so not dangerous.. If you put door in down position-- (unhook carriage from door)(also no air lines), so you know where inside magnet is. Put heavy leather gloves on, and slam carriage toward wall to recouple it--If you take the magnaglide down use a piece of wood and large hammer to remove carriage. maybe takes a couple time, but you will know when hooked correctly, when installing. I found out a new carriage is $800, and $400 with core. But not hard to clean inside magnets and replace the nylon seals and wipers, but i went to a machine shop to take out the c- clips and install-- they are monsters.

 

[SuperClean]

Its just over 3 years old it. They just gave me a quote to replace it not fix it $1500. I put on weather striping to tight and when it tried to go up the door wouldn't move and thats when it happened and would not hold the doors weight after that. there is a counter balance on the other side of the door but it does not hold the door its the full weight when it comes down and from ft it crashes down could not imagine at ft
I will try what you said before spending $1500 Thanks

 

[Whale of a Wash]

The weatherstripping is not the cause of your problem-- it added to a big problem. When you have the door unhooked( I have counterbalances at one wash. A child can lift the door-- a counterbalance--counterbalances the door so no weight-- or very little maybe 20lbs. Someone installed your door wrong with no weights if is heavy--it needs more weight to counterbalance door. Any door guy other than original installer can figure it out and then re-sync the magnets. Magnaglides have a 3yr unconditional warranty, so don't pay to fix an installers poor work. Call airlift to see about a fix.
John

 

[SuperClean]

Thanks so much the problem was with the counter weight it was hanging down about 3ft on my back door its close to the top so i took the weights off and tightened it up and it works fine now. The company that sells air lift here just wanted to sell me a new opener. I'm glad i did not go there i think the same problem would have come back with in weeks. Thanks Again

 

[Whale of a Wash]

I'm glad that worked for you. To keep things lasting- remember to jb80 the shafts fairly often and to keep them clean. Also to take off the air lines and use air tool oil, if no oilers, to keep things running smoother. Anytime i see black streaks on the opener i get out the rag and jb80 to keep them clean.

 

[Burky]

I found an easier way to recouple the outer and inner slides on these Magnaglide door cylinders, you don’t even have to remove the cylinder. Find which way the outer cylinder needs to go with the directions on airlift doors website, remove the bracket from the door and use a bar clamp to force the slider back to the second “locked” position with the inner magnets. Reassemble and you’re done. Took about 10 minutes and only a one man project.