Replies

1. 
   IMERC | Feb 09, 2004 10:44pm | #1

   Just make sure it opens fast enough to get out of the way before the DW puts the mobile in the garage...

   The Stanely's seem to be okay. Chain drives seem to need less care and feeding...

    

   Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....

1. 
   sungod | Feb 09, 2004 11:22pm | #2

   I like the chain too.  I've seen gear ones wear out its traveler, mayber thery're fixed now. 

2. 
   PeteBradley | Feb 10, 2004 12:10am | #3

   I put in Genie Excelerators (very fast, screw drive) about 2 years ago. The only thing that I would change is to try and get the one-piece track rather than the 3-piece version that's sold in home centers. This would save installation time and I imagine would be stronger too. I believe the one-piece track is sold as a "pro" model or something like that. Genie has a pretty good web site, so you could probably locate a dealer through that.

   Pete

3. 
   fireball | Feb 10, 2004 02:21am | #4

   I just went through this at our house and I went with the Genie Excellerator.The web search I did showed people not liking the Craftsmans.I bought two Genies because Home Depot had $25 gift cards and no payments or interest for a year on them.

   Installation wasn't too bad,instructions fine,everything there.They are 3pc. rails plus an extension if you have 8' doors.Maybe down the road it will matter but for right now they run smooth.

   When I was setting the first one up it died on the contact/reverse test.I opened it up and found the control fuse had blown.I looked almost everywhere and couldn't find a replacement so I took the fuse out of the second one.Plugged it in and blew the fuse again.Called them and they were real nice,said that by the blink code the printed circuit board for the drive circuit was bad,and they would UPS it to me.I told them about taking the fuse out of the second one and asked if they would send a replacement fuse.They said" Oh no problem,will just send two boards".

   Replace the board,plug it in,control fuse blows again.Call them up,kinda pissed now,and they said "Well,then it must be the motor itself.We'll send you a whole power head." Get it a few days later, notice it's a different color.Look at the model number and the replacement comes with a lesser warranty than the "lifetime" model I bought.I didn't feel like arguing with them about it,so I just took the whole f'n thing down , put it in the box,took it back to HD and got a new one,no questions asked.It and the second one seem to work OK.They did take a beating on the deal though.

   
   

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   Edited 2/9/2004 6:24:18 PM ET by IBEW Barry

1. 
   FastEddie1 | Feb 12, 2004 07:06am | #15

   I agree on the Genie Excellerators.  Quiet and fast.  Long time to build the first one.  Worked twice and then wouldn't open any more.  Called the factory help line, got a bozo who was reading the manual.  After 10 minutes he declares that the door isn't balanced.  What?  Yeah it has to be balanced like it says in the installation manual.  What page?  Depends on the model.  I told you the model number when I called, what page is it on?  Try page 24 or 25.  Sure enough, under Monthly Maintenance (maybe it was annual maintenance) it says the door balance needs to be checked.  No mention at all in the install steps.  He said it should stay motionless when the door is 36" off the floor, and that model is very susceptible to heavy door damage.  So they sent a new circuit board at no charge.

   Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!"  Then get busy and find out how to do it.  T. Roosevelt

   The craftsman formerly known as elCid

4. 
   scrumseeker | Feb 10, 2004 03:11am | #5

   Look  for a local Liftmaster dealer.  It is the Chamberlain professional brand (Chamberlain makes all the craftsmen openers as well as several other store brands).  The liftmasters will come with a one piece rail sized for your garage door height. 

   The belt drive machine is my personal favorite.  It is quieter than a chain or gear drive, although the door is usually louder than any opener.  The tension adjustment is quick and spring loaded for proper tension.  Another nice thing with a liftmaster is that the photoelctric eye mount will just snap on to a standard garage door track (easier installation).

   I am also generally pleased with the customer service from liftmaster if there is a problem with the unit. 

   Just remember to duck when your jumping over the safety beam  while running out of your garage with the door closing.

   Jason Van Dame

1. 
   blackcloud | Feb 10, 2004 08:35am | #6

   I agree about the Liftmaster Beltdrive it is a great opener and boy is it quiet, I have bigger than normal doors 10'X9'X2".  When poperly installed the motor is hardly working.

   JasonIf it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have Any!

2. 
   Scrapr | Feb 12, 2004 05:32am | #14

   Was tuning the radio one Saturday. Went by a Home Improvement deal. I thought they were talking about garage door motors that mounted at the head rail/springs. Then radio controlled?  very small motors, no rail needed. Supposed to be very quiet. Is there such a thing?

1. 
   IMERC | Feb 12, 2004 07:28am | #16

   Wayne Dalton has one. works great for a little while untill all the plastic rips out. plastic every thing... 

   Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....

1. 
   BillHartmann | Feb 12, 2004 08:02am | #17

   I have a Lift-Master that 23 years old. It operates HEAVY 18ft wooden door which was probably way out of balance until the one of the springs broke last year.

   Now it is well worn out and the force limit does not work any more, but it still opens the door. Even when the spring broke it worked it still opened it once and it was not until it stalled the next time that I figured out why is was so jerking opening the first time.

   I know someone that has installed a couple of Marantec's and says that they are really good quality.

   http://www.marantecamerica.com/

   As far as installing them all of the manufactures web sites have installation manuals that you can down load to see what you are getting into.

2. 
   HeavyDuty | Feb 12, 2004 08:24am | #18

   If you want to install one of those, make sure it is of commercial duty. That's what they use at auto service centers.

5. 
   EricS | Feb 10, 2004 01:59pm | #7

   IMHO, BRADLEPC hit the nail on the head, i.e. try to get the one piece rail/screw from a pro installation shop.  You can probably locate one here -

   http://www.geniecompany.com/index.htm 

   I installed two Genie Excelerator's on my own doors.  Bought from HD using one of their 10% off credit card deals about two years ago.  Like lots of other things, first one takes way too long to install but second one goes up quick. 

      

1. 
   tenpenny | Feb 10, 2004 06:22pm | #8

   Speaking of garage door openers (to hijack this thread completely), we have two identical doors with Chamberlain something or other openers.  DWs works perfectly; I've adjusted the opener on mine several times, and when closing, the door lurches severly; occasionally, enough to cause it to reverse to full open.  I've adjusted the closing force, chain tension, etc, but I think the problem isn't in the opener, it's in the door.

   My guess is that the door spring tension isn't set right.  Any other brilliant suggestions?  As far as I can determine, the door isn't actually binding on anything.

1. 
   IMERC | Feb 10, 2004 07:18pm | #9

   Unhook the opener from the door and work the door manually....

   Watch for binding. The door bottom not level. The door should go up and down with minimal exsertion. The door should close flush to the floor.

   Not flush to the floor or out of level opening I would suspect unequal spring tension.... or

   Besides one of the springs being streched and throwing the tension out of wack look to your hardware. The bearings in the shieves in the pully system might be shot creating drag. One or more of your door rollers made be trashed and dragging. The hinges need lube or are loose / have excessive play. Door panel connecting hardware is loose on the panels. The roller track maybe out of alignment or bent. Kinks in the cables snagging in the shieves. Safty cables hanging up in the springs. Springs dragging on the tracks. The hardware may be in bad need of a lube. Spray white Litium grease is great for this...

   A door panel is bent. Door panels don't link together quite right.

   So now everything works fine with the opener detatched and not with the opener in operation.

   The drive is binding. Lube lacking. Excessive play in the drive mech. Piolet wheels binding, worn or out of alignment. Dry guide track.

   If you replace the rollers don't use the plastic / nylon ones. In the long run they become PITA-POS..

   Your door is a Wayne Dalton. No hope now. 

   Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....

1. 
   IMERC | Feb 13, 2004 09:00pm | #20

   Gott know... 

   Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....

2. 
   IMERC | Feb 10, 2004 07:26pm | #10

   If you go fussing with the springs have some body at hand standing by to help or rush you to the hospital.

   Those springs get away on you and they can KILL you or put you in ICU. You can have body parts TORN off your person.

   You get bound up in one and yur gonna need help getting turned loose...  

   Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....

3. 
   IMERC | Feb 10, 2004 07:29pm | #11

   Some thing else..

   Door opener is off center or kanted to the door.  

   Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....

4. 
   PeteBradley | Feb 10, 2004 07:38pm | #12

   I had a thread on this a while ago. See message 26164.6 for more.

   Pete

1. 
   IMERC | Feb 12, 2004 04:45am | #13

   To search under that # gives the copper pipe. About where is it? 

   Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....

1. 
   misfit | Feb 12, 2004 08:45am | #19

   26164.1 is the start of that thread. I searched for it with...BRADLEPC and garage door opener. That search listed 26164.1 and 26164.6    A bad day at home is still better than a good day at work