Garage Door Openers

[cudaken]

Need some tips on garage door openers for a two car one door garage. I have a old solid wood garage door and it is heavy!

Long time ago, guess 15 years + the Torsion Springs broke and I replaced them with the springs that go on the sides. I have been told Torsion springs are dangerous for do it your self folks. Old Sears chain drive worked for sometime after I installed the side mounted springs. But it finally died about 8 years ago. Opener still works, but I have to help it by lifting with it.

Friend told me the clutch had went bad?  With the age of the opener I would be stunned if Sears still had parts.    It is the puke Green from the 70's! 

I have seen openers from $158 to $300, screw, chain drive 1/2 and 3/4 HP. I all so don't care if it is quite, everything I love is loud!   

With me being me I would normal pick the one with the highest HP rating, but will the Clutch hold up if they really have one? 

I all so want to spend as little as possible, not that I am cheap. I am fighting with Bank Of Stupid (Bank of America) to keep the house.   

Cuda Ken

   

[A383Wing]

if the door is that heavy, and the original torsion springs are broke, I doubt any door opener will lift it properly. The weight of the door going up or down has to be basically neutral for a door opener to work right

[Daytona R/T SE]

The weight of the door going up or down has to be basically neutral for a door opener to work right

Get the springs adjusted correctly, so then the opener can handle it.

[Alaskan_TA]

Get creative!

[Dans 68]

Send a PM to MidPenMopar (http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?action=pm;sa=send;u=9135). He is the garage door guy. 

Dan

[Ghoste]

And is there actually a clutch of some sort in them?

[A383Wing]

And is there actually a clutch of some sort in them?

neither of mine have "clutches"....mine are toothed gear driven from motor to chain

[Ghoste]

I'm certain thats what mine are too but...?

[cudaken]

Just sent the PM. I might have burned out one of the winding's in the motor as well.

I do understand the idea of a neutral balances between the door and the springs. But, if the weight is neutral, why do they make 1/2 and 3/4 HP motors? 

Cuda Ken

[Tilar]

Get the right springs, and get a 3/4 hp or higher garage door opener. Do it right or don't do it. 

[Dans 68]

...I do understand the idea of a neutral balances between the door and the springs. But, if the weight is neutral, why do they make 1/2 and 3/4 HP motors?  

Cuda Ken

Inertia. For example, just because a car would be weightless in outer space doesn't mean you can easily move it.
Dan

[A383Wing]

more HP is needed to get the door moving in the first place when it's open or closed...takes less HP to keep it moving once going

[Midpenmopar]

Hi Ken, call me on my cell 650 438 6219 ( 700 hours to 1900 hours PST) and i will discuss it and get you all fixed.

Its way easier for me to help you over the phone than via messages. 
Stu

[cudaken]

Thank you Stu, I am off Friday and will try to give you a call.

              Ken

[Midpenmopar]

Ok sounds good!

[NHCharger]

I use to build houses and have installed a couple hundred garage doors and openers. Yes- if you don't know what you are doing you can hurt yourself winding up (or loading) a torsion spring.
In order to get the correct springs for your door you need to weigh the door, then buy the springs that are the closest match.

[cudaken]

While I have a idea how to weight the door any clue to how much a wooden double door weight? My medical scale goes to 350, anything over that and I will be guessing. I would all so have to disconnect the garage door opener. I know for a fact I cannot lift it by my self.

Cuda Ken

[NHCharger]

Ugh. Last wooden garage door I installed was 1984ish.
I weighed my 9'x7' steel door a few years ago when I had a spring break. I want to say it was 110-120 lbs. If yours is for two cars and wooden I'm guessing 250-300 lbs
Maybe at this point you should buy a new door, replace the wooden door. buy an opener later.

[Lord Warlock]

I have a double wide all wood door, 3 or 4 sections tall, full width length, door is heavy as a bitch without the springs to assist.  The torsion springs are only dangerous because when you add tension  to them, if the handle slips you can knock yourself out, fall off the ladder and split your skull on the concrete.  Or take out all the expensive dental work in one shot.  If you take your time loading the springs, you should be fine.  I will admit that I've paid a garage guy to come replace my springs when they broke, each side has failed at least once.  Without the springs I could lift the door but it wasn't easy, the wife wouldn't be able to do it.  There are models that lift from the side, you may want to look into those.

Just got a new chamberlain 3/4 horse opener from Lowe's,  cost less than 200, very quiet compared to the previous 3 openers i've had in this house. Its a belt drive.  it actually starts slow, speeds up during the pull and slows down near the end so there is no jerking motion that adds stress to the motor and hardware.  So far pretty happy with it, we'll have to see how long it lasts.  Was pretty disappointed with the last few Craftsman models I had, all 1/2 hp, and only lasted a few years each.  First one i had lasted almost 10 years.  Decided to get something else this time, and the reviews i read online about the chamberlain were good so went with it.  

[flyinlow]

Get creative!

That's the opener I want!   Manual back up and parts available at TSC. Made in the USA.