Garage Door Opener

[Rich M.]

Looking to replace a 30+ Allister chain drive garage door opener.

My thought is to stay with a chain drive system since in the 30 years we have not had an issue and not as expensive as a belt drive. Noise is not an issue. My garage has a single door that is 9’x6’.

The reason for replacing the old opener is current one does not have the most up-to-date safety feature and I would like an outside wireless key pad and I am probably on borrowed time with my current one.

As most know, there are a lot of major brands but I have no clue what is the most reliable.

The one thing that has a common threat during my research, is most articles say it is better to get a one piece track than one that is pieced together. Also, a full chain is recommended.

When. I looked up the best openers for 2022 each site had different models as their top picks.

I was going to install myself, but my back issues prevent me from doing any overhead work, so a company will have to it.

Thoughts as far as what brand and models may work best. Mainly, any to stay away from.

Thanks

 

[CombatNinja]

If your opener has a remote (the black box deal you keep in the car), then you can add a wireless keypad. It is really just another remote. What features are you looking for that the old one doesn't have?

 

[Rich M.]

Mainly an outside keypad. As for the one remote we did have, we believe one of our small children, at the time, threw it in the trash. The garage is my workshop and not used to park a car, so the missing remote was not too important.

Also, the emergency reverse feature using the door attachment sensors would be nice when we sell the house.

 

[05snopro440]

I have two openers on 10' x 10' insulated residential steel doors in my garage. They're both made by the same end manufacturer but one is 10-15 years older.

I wouldn't worry about a segmented vs one-piece rail. My older opener is a 3/4 hp chain-drive opener, and the new one is a 1/2 horsepower chain-drive Chamberlain (bought by the previous owner but installed last year by me). Both operate nice and smooth with no issues, and the 1/2 hp is actually quieter and faster, just probably because it's newer technology. Both of my openers have segmented tracks and with the long length and width of the doors we haven't seen any issues or any more deflection in the rail than one-piece openers on other doors we've had. With a 9' x 6' door you won't have any issues either way.

On the new Chamberlain, I have a wireless keypad and its really handy. I really like the upper and lower limit adjustments on the Chamberlain, you just press a button to get it where you want it. It's much better than the old rotating switch style upper and lower adjustments.

I don't have any experience with other brands, but several of them use all the same tech anyways.

 

[engineer2]

My 30 year old opener is nearing EOL and we'll probably have to bring it up to current code before we sell. You know, photoelectric sensor and all that.
I'd consider one with a phone app for the remote.

 

[kbs2244]

sell "as is" and let the buyer pick what is inportant to them

 

[mike93lx]

I really like belt drives. So quiet

 

[nadogail]

I have become a fan of the Geni openers, their tech support has made me look pretty smart several times. I know there are several companies that put their names on garage door openers, and their products are probably pretty good; but I have found the Geni Customer Service telephone line to be very helpful.

 

[SlotlessMan]

Personal experience with a chain drive.

If the chain breaks, it can fall and slap around whatever is parked below it. They may have safety catches that eliminate this issue today but I'd check into it if I cared for my vehicle.

 

[Rich M.]

After more research and looking at warranties (not sure how a warranty claim would really go)and the better belts available today may make it the way to go. My front runner, at the moment, is the Chamberlein.

The rating reviews seem to be good with a few negative reviews thrown in, but that is to be expected with most products.

I did/do have a concern about the sectional rail versus the one piece, so help quill my internal concern, please let me know if anyone has had an issues with the sectional rails. Member 05 snopro440 is fine with his sectional rail.

Thanks

 

[KansasArt]

Have a Genie model 200. Built by Alliance Manufacturing in Alliance, Ohio. 3 piece rail. Chain drive. Avocado green. It was with the house when we bought it in the mid ‘90’s. Still works great. No louder than the chain drive chamberlain in the other door. Both lifting 9X7’s.

 

[mike93lx]

All rails aren't at least three piece? Or are you talking about even smaller sections?

 

[Innovate1]

Personal experience with a chain drive.

If the chain breaks, it can fall and slap around whatever is parked below it. They may have safety catches that eliminate this issue today but I'd check into it if I cared for my vehicle.

It really shouldn't fall with much force unless the spring balance is not set correctly. Isn't the same issue going to happen with belt drive? I have seen very old openers with lead screws which wouldn't have that issue but doubt any are made that way anymore.

 

[05snopro440]

It really shouldn't fall with much force unless the spring balance is not set correctly. Isn't the same issue going to happen with belt drive? I have seen very old openers with lead screws which wouldn't have that issue but doubt any are made that way anymore.

A steel chain versus a rubber belt slapping your treasured car will obviously have much different results.

 

[AndyL]

Yeah you can get liftmaster residential trolleys - they're made of HSS angle and yup they're strong like bull.

Chamberlain retail box rails are fine however - if you have an insulated glazed carriage house door weighing 600+lbs then maybe you need to look at the dealer rail. 98% of the doors out there - the multi piece rail is fine.

Chains rarely snap - belts almost never. The master link at the tension adjuster is the weak link typically.

 

[Innovate1]

A steel chain versus a rubber belt slapping your treasured car will obviously have much different results.

Ahh. I get it now. Not the door falling on something but the chain. That could cause some damage.

 

[mike93lx]

...

 

[05snopro440]

...

 

[mike93lx]

I'm confused. What does that have to do with the garage door opener chain failing?

Lol, wrong thread. No idea how that got here. Please disregard

 

[garandman]

We have a double door with a very old Sears chain drive that stopped working. Did some trouble shooting and still dead.

Is it easy to install these yourself in an existing install? Or should ai find an installer? Issue is there probably isn’t an installer within 20 miles in NH.

 

[kbs2244]

a one for one replacement is a walk in the park job
if you by a Chamberlin most of the holes should line up

 

[nolimits76]

If you aren't aware, Chamberlain Group is the parent company for both the Chamberlain & LiftMaster brands.

I have used Chamberlain, LiftMaster, Genie and Overhead Door in the past through the various homes I've lived in. I've also had 3 piece rails and single piece rails. I can't really say I noticed performance difference, but I always "felt" better having single rail. Maybe just a mindset thing, but I didn't pay extra for it so it is what it is. Some had external keypads, some didn't. I've added them onto existing units w/o too many problems so that's a non-factor IMO.

Also while I have mostly had chains, I did own 1 unit with a belt, which I did like but didn't notice a massive difference in sound. However, as I reflect back on that experience I do wonder if I'd have a different opinion in my current house today which has a flex room (wife's office) directly above the garage. In today's scenario (LiftMaster chain), the floor of the office vibrates and it's just freaking loud. I'm inclined to think a belt drive may help lessen the noise and vibration to a point that would be appreciable. Although in fairness, a wall mounted jackshaft drive unit like the LiftMaster 8500 or Chamberlain RJ070 would likely provide the most appreciable gain.

Based on all that, if I were looking to replace my door opener today I would probably be looking at the following units pretty hard. That first couple have 2,000 lumens of LED lighting, battery backup, a built-in security camera and belt drive. My biggest hesitation would come back to our specific application of my wife's office overhead -- I'm just not sure the belt drive would provide enough vibration/noise reduction the jackshaft drives would offer, despite loving the other technology aspects.

B6753T | Secure View™ Battery Backup Garage Door Opener | Discontinued | Chamberlain

Find Chamberlain® B6753T service parts and support direct from the source. We support replacement parts for both current and discontinued models.

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87504-267 | Secure View™ Ultra-Quiet Belt Drive Smart Opener with Camera, LED Corner to Corner Lighting™ and Battery Backup | LiftMaster

LiftMaster is the #1 brand of professionally installed residential, commercial and gate opener systems.

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RJO70MC | Wall Mount Garage Door Opener | Discontinued | Chamberlain

Find Chamberlain® Garage Door Opener replacement parts for current and discontinued models. Click here for serviceable options.

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LiftMaster | Garage Door Openers, Remotes & Accessories

LiftMaster is the #1 brand of professionally-installed residential garage door systems and commercial door operators.

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[2Busy]

I don’t really see how strength of the rail can be much of an issue. It’s really just guiding the slide along as the chain or belt moves the door up/down and levering against the front of the garage as it pushes open. The weight of the door is being carried by the door tracks, so whether the rail is 3 pieces or 1 it ought to get the job done.

Earlier this year I replaced all 3 of our very old openers with Chamberlain 3/4 hp belt drives. Really happy with them so far. Didn’t think I’d have any use for their MyQ wireless app but I was surprised. Really nice to be able to check remotely whether a door got left open and to open a door for service guys that need access when we’re not home.

 

[garandman]

Going to check this week.