Finally got that tricky door operator to hold adjustment after a tip from a retired guy

I was working on a 90s Dover in an office building downtown last month, fighting this one door operator that just would not hold its close force setting. Every time I thought I had it dialed in, the next day the call would come in that it was slamming shut again. An old timer I know, Frank, who retired about five years back, told me once to check the guide shoe bushings on the sill before I even touch the board. He said, 'Kid, if those are shot, the door is fighting itself and no amount of tweaking the pot will fix it for good.' I figured I had checked everything, but I went back and really looked. Sure enough, the nylon bushings on the leading edge were completely worn through, letting the door rack sideways just enough to bind. Replaced those for maybe twenty bucks in parts, and the adjustment I made after has held solid for three weeks now. Has anyone else run into a similar fix where the obvious adjustment wasn't the real problem?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_mia1mo ago

Frank retired five years ago and still gave you the winning tip!

garcia.charles1mo ago

@the_mia Right? So what's the weirdest fix you've found that wasn't in the book?