Dumb garage door conversion question

[mustange70]

I'm looking to get rid of the center/overhead garage door opener and go to a side mount. I have a vaulted ceiling and I want to maximize this space. My door size is 8.5x16'

In short I don't have the ~$500 to buy new right now (but in the future when I do i'll do this proper), and used are scarce.

So my dumb question, is who's has all converted their overhead/center openers to a side mount using a chain drive? I have a Marantec (I think that's right) opener, works great, just in the way. I know I'd need to make sure that the opener is on the right side so up is up and down is down, and also that I'd need to adjust the limits, again not a big deal. Also building new mounts is easy. I don't mind losing the manual operation part either.

Anything in particular I should watch out for, or will I die in a fiery death explosion?

 

[Narddog]

If you mean a jackshaft opener there really isn't anything you need to do except make sure that you have power ran to the area. It also shouldn't cost anywhere near $500. Mine was an easy install and adjusting limits was easy too.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[mustange70]

To buy a new jackshaft opener was anywhere from 4-500 to replace what I have now with a new one.

I'm wanting to convert my existing opener to a jackshaft/side opener.

 

[Trey T]

I looked into that couple yrs ago and it was not worth the time or money. I know there's a guy on ebay and youtube that sell conversion kit for applicable opener (DC motor opener) but it's around $200, IIRC. The money isn't the problem for me ... it's the amount of time you have to invest just to save $300 of getting the proper jackshaft opener

 

[JRC3]

http://www.weshipgaragedoorparts.co...r-opener.php?gclid=CI352c3RktMCFQ-NaQodbgYNrA $299 Fres S/H


I've seen people online and around here mount chain openers off-center/more towards one side on the ceiling.

 

[mustange70]

Meh, time is irrelevant to me, would take me no more than an afternoon/evening to do this (I have a full fab shop setup) and the only cost is the chain/sprocket.

 

[JRC3]

...and the only cost is the chain/sprocket.

Don't you have about 10' of chain already? LOL

Ima have to look at that sidemount idea for my newer Craftsman. With a little more room it could go above the torsion bar or parallel with the ceiling. That'd look better and be safer. That thing sure was quiet to boot.

 

[mustange70]

Lol, true, but if it doesn't work I'd like to not butcher everything completely so I can return to the original setup.

 

[kbs2244]

I have a vaulted ceiling with an overhead, track type opener mounted to the ceiling.

Is your problem with the opener or the door tracks?
My door tracks follow the ceiling slope and the opener doesn't interfere with anything tall that I do.
If you change the door tracks to match the ceiling slope your current opener can be mounted to the ceiling and the door the current way.

 

[mustange70]

Track are as high as they can be, in the center of the door is the peak, and I have like 4' of room above the opener I want to free up.

 

[Johnny01]

I only have a 10' door but I moved my opener to one side of the door. Works like a charm


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[gnpenning]

If you have the time and equipment to do it you should be good. you just need to find a driven gear that has a 1" center hole or machine one that works with your chain size. You may also need pusher springs and play with gear size??? that should be the hardest part.

 

[drmarkr]

3 hrs to pull down the old ****, and install this. I have 4 of them on my property...they are freaking awesome. $300

http://www.weshipgaragedoorparts.co...yN-RWZsz9iZrDRJAAlWplmuu79ANMMz6NZRoCbRbw_wcB

 

[Viper98912]

Just spend the $300 and buy the liftmaster 8500...

 

[RAYJAY]

3 hrs to pull down the old ****, and install this. I have 4 of them on my property...they are freaking awesome. $300

http://www.weshipgaragedoorparts.co...yN-RWZsz9iZrDRJAAlWplmuu79ANMMz6NZRoCbRbw_wcB

put one on my new door best I ever seen

 

[RobSmith]

There is no such thing as a Dumb Question ....If you need to know something ..ask ! the real dumbarses don't ask. You have your answers here from a lot of smart people. Keep asking and answer the questions for the dummies that don't ask.

 

[JRC3]

There is no such thing as a Dumb Question ....If you need to know something ..ask ! the real dumbarses don't ask. You have your answers here from a lot of smart people. Keep asking and answer the questions for the dummies that don't ask.

I used to really hang out on some fishkeeping forums. Newbs would always come along and ask questions, get a ton of great proper advice, and then do whatever was easiest or suited their wants over the needs of the fish. Then they'd drop the hobby because the fish wen't belly up. It was frustrating. Anyways it prompted this as my forum signature, "There are many knowledgeable fish keepers on this forum willing to help and give great advice...The advice is free; What you choose to do with it gives it value."

My ramble is done.

 

[kbs2244]

I t sounds like your door is in the gable end wall?
90 degrees to the ridge?

 

[MikeF]

I'm looking to get rid of the center/overhead garage door opener and go to a side mount. I have a vaulted ceiling and I want to maximize this space. My door size is 8.5x16'

In short I don't have the ~$500 to buy new right now (but in the future when I do i'll do this proper), and used are scarce.

So my dumb question, is who's has all converted their overhead/center openers to a side mount using a chain drive? I have a Marantec (I think that's right) opener, works great, just in the way. I know I'd need to make sure that the opener is on the right side so up is up and down is down, and also that I'd need to adjust the limits, again not a big deal. Also building new mounts is easy. I don't mind losing the manual operation part either.

Anything in particular I should watch out for, or will I die in a fiery death explosion?

So, you want to take your trolley opener and mount it on the wall vertically? Simple if you have the headroom for the power head. You will need to make brackets that clear the chain and trolley, if you can't do that then don't bother. Then you'll need to make a bracket with an arm that will mount to the bottom section on what ever side you are putting the opener. That bracket needs to attach to the trolley *** on the opener.

It's a dumb way to do it but it was huge in the Comercial biz a long time ago. Tripped me out the first time I messed with one.

How wide is the door? To wide and you might damage it over time

 

[mustange70]

The fab part on this is easy, I build trucks, and am currently building a mega truck.

Yeah the door is on the gable end, and there is plenty of room to mount the opener. Door width is 16' wide, if over time its a problem, no biggie, I'll plan for it, just right now I have 0 money to put into this other than a sprocket and short length of chain.


Looks like I'll give this a go when I have a sunday free.

 

[kbs2244]

The conversion of the motor head should be pretty simple.
I have seen them used for all types of homebrew projects.
Getting a sprocket to fit the spring shaft may be the hardest part.

If the tracks are in the way, redo them in the warehouse style.
Instead of going horizontal at the top of the door they slant about 15 degrees inward.
Almost straight up the wall.
If you do not have enough vertical room the take the whole door height you can bend them to the horizontal at the ceiling.

 

[dfiler2]

I had never heard of doing this, found this video and I would guess that's a 16' or wider door. Looks pretty simple.

another one

 

[Viper98912]

Hillbillies!

Nice work.

 

[like2wheel]

But wouldn't you have to take the chain off if you lose power?