"professorpaul" wrote in message
oups.com...
If it is a chain drive, lube the chain - SAE 30 motor oil works here.
Wipe off the extra.

If a worm drive, use grease. Automotive ball joint grease will work
just fine. Lubriplate is also good (non-migrating zinc oxide grease?).

Look at ALL the joints and rollers -- the door hinges, rollers in the
track, etc. The oil will work itself in here with a few cycles of the
door. The pump oiler lets you get it to the bearing.. I use SAE 90 gear
oil here -- stays in place betters, and doesn't drip as much. Getting
up on a ladder might be necessary to reach everything. Make sure to get
the bearing in the spring system, as they are under a lot of tension
and have a lot of friction.

About once a year does the trick, or when things seem to get noisey. I
haven't found greasing the track to make that much difference, though
it does help to cut down the "rattle" a little.

WD-40 is basically paint thinner (Stodart solvent) and a propellant.
Good for loosening things up, but little or no long term lubrication
qualities.

Your milage will vary...


Everything you said makes sense but I go one further. Use wheel bearing
grease on the last coils and hooks of the door springs. From printing press
experience the bends and hooks fracture from heat and the grease helps
distribute the heat .. maybe an old pressmans tale but it works for me.

Bill