Help! Trying to install a Liftmaster 3800

[Passat]

Just had a house built and asked the builder to set my garage door up for a liftmaster 3800 opener.

Went to install it today and ran into an issue. The door is a Wayne Dalton and has some type of mount on the side the will not allow the Liftmaster 3800 to work. It is some type of shaft that does not turn. If someone could please let me know what I need, that would be great.

I have attached a picture of what this "strange mount" looks like to me.



http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=60627&cat=500

 

[IDASHO]

yep, a wayne dalton POS.

It looks to be one of their cable drawn ones. Im not sure if you can retrofit a liftmaster for it. I have my doubts.

 

[Passat]

Thanks, I was kind of hoping for another answer.. Any other suggestions

 

[nova65ss]

You have what is called a TMS or torquemaster. The 3800 will not work with this system, only thing you can do is have it converted to a standard torsion system.

 

[bmwpower]

Sounds like a call to the builder is in order.

Nova, what's the deal with the TMS setup? No one makes an opener for it?

 

[anojones]

That's the type I have on my garage, I have the Wayne Dalton iDrive garage door openers on it which should work with those doors and doesn't need much head room. Not sure I'd reccomend them, I've had problems with mine and with the doors jamming up, not closing etc. Make sure you get the plastic cable snubber over that cable spool or they will tangle when opening and closing. If you all ready have the 3800 it might be worth it to retrofit to a standard torsion spring system rather than the WD cable system. On the new garage/barn we have a standard torsion system and a 3800 waiting to be installed once the electricity finish work is done.

 

[nova65ss]

The springs are inside the tube. WD designed it, installs it, etc. The I drive is the opener that works like a jackshaft for it but is is not very reliable at all. Builder can't really help, just need to find someone that can take it down and install a standard torsion setup. We do it all the time when they break.

 

[dipper]

glad I didn't go with WD. Sounds like a headache.

 

[IDASHO]

Oh yeah. They are headaches. We have W.D. doors at work. Seems like they are getting repaired WEEKLY

 

[Passat]

I emailed the builder just waiting for a reply on Monday. I have asked that the company that installed the WD replace it with a standard torsion spring system. How much would it cost to switch approx? Door is 16x7.

I did ask the builder to wire for a side mount garage door opener. He had the electrican wire an outlet to the side along with run the wires all to the side. Seemed pretty clear to me that the door company would have installed a spring system that would work with the Liftmaster 3800.

Thanks guys for all of the help.

 

[Aircooled]

If the builder made any mention to the garage door guy that there was a sidemount opener going in there, the door guy should have known the issue would come up. Aside from having a special coupler custom made, you will need to have the builder do a standard torsion spring conversion----or run a draw bar opener; probably not an option you want to explore, given your planning and the wiring already being done.

 

[ovilla]

I have both a WD i-drive opener and a 3800 and can tell you that the i-drive is a POS. It does work but only after days of tweaking during the initial set up an luckily for me it's attached to my 3rd bay, which doesn't see that much garage door action. You will absolutely love the 3800, especially with all it's safety features. I already had my i-drive unspool itself when the door got stuck once, which can't ever happen on the 3800 because of the wire tension monitor. On the WD i-drive units (for those that are not familiar with these), you'll also hate the built-in delay of their remotes. Just when you think that the remote must have not worked and you're ready to hit the button again, the door will all of a sudden open. The WD doors are just doors but the openers are ****. Anyway, I just had to vent. If anybody wants to buy my already installed and working i-drive unit (the one made for non WD doors with regular torsion sprngs), I'll sell it to you cheap.

 

[waldo]

Information requested. I'm new to the board. I'm having a house built with 9' garage ceilings but wish they could be heigher. Anyone have some pictures of the best way to extend the door channels to make them closer to the ceiling?
Also, any thoughts or pictures on torsion mount or side mount door openers?
Thanks, Bill

 

[JCByrd24]

Here you go Waldo, see PM for details.