Garage door opener installation question

[michaelinga]

Hello all, newbie here, I am hoping to get some answers about installing a garage door opener.
I have an uninsulated 16' wide aluminum door on my pole barn and I want to install a garage door opener. The issues:

- The door panels are laid out such as there is no support beam on the CL of the door. I think I am going to buy a support beam and install it so I can install the mount for the opener to this support beam. My other option would be to move the opener off center to get the mount on a support beam, not an idea I like.

- As I laid out the mounting bracket for the rail of the opener, I noticed that the springs were mounted higher than normal. So my mounting bracket is about 6" above the highest point of the door. The instructions say no more than 2". There is no way around this as the 2" mark puts the bracket in the springs. I am thinking of getting an extension for the arm that goes from the rail to the door. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.
Tom

 

[pattenp]

Too late now but you should have used a jackshaft opener such as the Liftmaster 8500. I believe an extension for the arm is what you need.

 

[michaelinga]

I wish I had known about this sooner. That is a great idea (Liftmaster 8500). Thank for the reply on the extension.

 

[DeliveryGuy]

Put the bracket as tight to the springs as you can. That distance above will be fine. Just make sure the rail is only 2-3 inches above the top section of the door when the door is fully opened.

Put the opener off center. I do it all the time. There will be no issues.

 

[kbs2244]

here should be threaded holes on the back side of the door that go into the door frame.
They are for attaching the opener to.
As said, it is no big deal if the opener is not centered as long as the springs are adjusted correctly.

 

[ghlkal]

Put the opener off center. I do it all the time. There will be no issues.

x3

I wish I would have known about this "trick" sooner. There is no reason the opener has to be centered on the door.