add-a-motor overwinds and breaks the string!

I have to replace the string with the fishing line they recommend every 6 months or so, since I find it broke the string. I think this must be why mine keeps breaking too.

Mine are at least a couple of years old (I have two of them going). Actually one is new and one is a couple of years old. I had to replace one of them just recently as it stopped working. I bought them as a door package from a chicken supply company, so I kept the door and bought a new motor from Smarthome.

Hopefully someone will have the answer on how to prevent it. I told DH that even having to unscrew those screws and retie it a couple of times a year is still less work than going out twice a day to open/close the door at a specific time. But I would LOVE to know how to prevent it.

Here is my guess: the fishing line probably winds up around the spool at an angle sometimes, making it shorter in total length eventually? Maybe it gets hung a little. I have that problem with my weedeater spool.

 

Mine has worked great for almost a year, I would say the problem is with the start and stop setting, maybe adjust it so it isn't winding up so tight and stops before it hits the spool.