I swore by my old method for adjusting door operators until a call in Atlanta changed my mind.

For a decade, I'd set the close force by feel and a bit of guesswork, which usually meant a few extra callbacks for adjustments. Then, about six months ago, I got a service ticket for a building downtown where the doors kept slamming. The lead mechanic on site, a guy named Ray, showed me how to use the diagnostic mode on the Otis Gen2 to get exact force readings. Now I always run the diagnostics first, and my callback rate on those jobs has dropped to almost zero. Anyone else find that a specific tool or feature on a newer unit made you ditch an old habit?

4 comments

4 Comments

nathan_thompson6217d ago

Ray showed you the diagnostic mode on a Gen2, but did he also walk you through how to interpret the force graph when the battery is low? I still get tripped up on that part sometimes.

paulc932mo ago

Totally get that. The diagnostic screen on the newer Kone units was a game changer for me too. Used to just listen for binding sounds on the rails, but now I can see the exact amperage pull during a full run cycle. It spots a worn roller or slight track misalignment way before it becomes a noise complaint.

eric_johnson17d ago

Ngl, the amperage pull graph saved me from changing a perfectly good motor once.

hernandez.jordan2mo ago

Man, the diagnostic screen on the Schindler 3300 did the same thing for me. I used to just check the door bounce with my hand, but now I can see the actual closing speed graph. It shows a tiny delay that points right to a weak spring or a dragging seal.