I have a Craftsman 1/2-hp garage door opener that is maybe 12 years
old. Over the years I've had trouble with the light bulb not turning
on because of the vibration, which was fixed by rescrewing the bulb.
Well, the last time it happened my roommate "fixed" it, but it didn't
work, and he realized he had flattened the contact in the socket. So
what did he do? He grabbed a pair of pliers and - without turning off
the power - tried to pull the contact out. There was a loud pop, he
said, and now the socket is fried. (My roommate is alive thanks to the
insulation on the pliers). The garage door opener still works, and
there is a click when I turn on the wall switch. My question is (1)
Was other damage to the box besides the bulb socket?, (2) Is this
socket replaceable? (3) How easy is it to pull it out if I can find a
replacement socket? (Or do I have to remove the box from the ceiling
and take everything apart?)

Thanks for any information and insight,

John Fuller

The garage door opener still works, and
there is a click when I turn on the wall switch. My question is (1)
Was other damage to the box besides the bulb socket?,

Possible to have fried the relay that controls the light, but not
sure.
(2) Is this socket replaceable?

I recall they are standard sockets. Mounting may be a little funny,
and you would have to improvise.

(3) How easy is it to pull it out if I can find a
replacement socket? (Or do I have to remove the box from the ceiling
and take everything apart?)

Likely, and easiest to pull the box down from the ceiling. A good
lighting shop carries various replacement sockets, or maybe even your
local hardware store. Take the socket along, along with the mounting
bracket and see what you can find.

The fact that everything works still except for the light is a
positive sign.

My son replaced the control electronics on his opener some years ago,
but with a 12 year old opener, I'd consider replacing the whole mess
one of these days, depending on how much use it has gotten.

"Fuller" wrote in message
...
I have a Craftsman 1/2-hp garage door opener that is maybe 12 years
old. Over the years I've had trouble with the light bulb not turning
on because of the vibration, which was fixed by rescrewing the bulb.
Well, the last time it happened my roommate "fixed" it, but it didn't
work, and he realized he had flattened the contact in the socket. So
what did he do? He grabbed a pair of pliers and - without turning off
the power - tried to pull the contact out. There was a loud pop, he
said, and now the socket is fried. (My roommate is alive thanks to the
insulation on the pliers). The garage door opener still works, and
there is a click when I turn on the wall switch. My question is (1)
Was other damage to the box besides the bulb socket?, (2) Is this
socket replaceable? (3) How easy is it to pull it out if I can find a
replacement socket? (Or do I have to remove the box from the ceiling
and take everything apart?)

Thanks for any information and insight,

John Fuller

Many of the lamp sockets on these units, just snap into the housing. Since
you get a click when you turn on the switch, there is probably no damage
except for the socket. Take the make, model, and serial number off of the
machine and contact the manufacturer for a replacement socket. Once you have
the new socket in hand, it will be obvious how it installs

"Fuller" wrote in message
...
I have a Craftsman 1/2-hp garage door opener that is maybe 12 years
old. Over the years I've had trouble with the light bulb not turning
on because of the vibration, which was fixed by rescrewing the bulb.
Well, the last time it happened my roommate "fixed" it, but it didn't
work, and he realized he had flattened the contact in the socket. So
what did he do? He grabbed a pair of pliers and - without turning off
the power - tried to pull the contact out. There was a loud pop, he
said, and now the socket is fried. (My roommate is alive thanks to the
insulation on the pliers). The garage door opener still works, and
there is a click when I turn on the wall switch. My question is (1)
Was other damage to the box besides the bulb socket?, (2) Is this
socket replaceable? (3) How easy is it to pull it out if I can find a
replacement socket? (Or do I have to remove the box from the ceiling
and take everything apart?)

Thanks for any information and insight,

John Fuller

He may have dammaged the relay or more likely he burnt the wiring or circuit
board traces . If so they can be repaired. Just solder some wires to
replace the burnt traces.