Liftmaster 8500 mounting clearance issues

[AA7483]

I have a pole barn I just put up. I have a 9 x 12 door in the Gable end with a low clearance track. The top of the torsion bar is 1 1/2 from the ceiling which is less than the 3 inches they want. I see they make a alternate mounting bracket but LM tells me that is for the 3800. What are my options here? I'm not against notching the steel liner on the ceiling if need be. I hate to put a traditional opener in since that kills the height I get with the 9 ft door.

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

It will not show up from LM but you may be able to use a chain and sprockets to create a jackshaft from the existing tube down a few inches. Be aware you have to support the jack shaft with two bearings as the opener is not designed for side loads. The existing tube should also get an additional bearing at the end if it is long enough. This is normal in commercial applications. Most farm stores will have chain and sprockets with a 1" dia. hole. Or talk to your installer and ask them to come up with the supports, bearings, sprockets, chain and tube. Good luck.

 

[Viper98912]

How did you manage to get the shaft so close with the winding drums (pullies) taking up some diameter? Got a pic?

 

[AA7483]

Top of the shaft sits about 2 1/8 from middle of steel panel or 1.5 from the high rib

 

[AA7483]

A couple more shots.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

They make a pulley / lowering kit. Lets you mount the motor unit lower than the torsion bar.

http://www.garagedoorpartsupply.com/content/Liftmaster/480LM.pdf
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002P5RDDK/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I think they make a couple different versions.
Google liftmaster 480LM

 

[AA7483]

That's what I thought but the lady I talked to at liftmaster said it was only for the 3900.

 

[Walter_TA]

Cut the steel on the roof.

 

[pattenp]

That's what I thought but the lady I talked to at liftmaster said it was only for the 3900.

The 3900, 3800, 8500 are the same opener but with different electronic features. The sprocket lowering kit will work on the 3800 or 8500.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/480lm-alte...low-head-room-garage-door-opener/170783296267

See description, 8500

*

 

[kbs2244]

Go with the jack shaft.
If you have a Menards near you, go check out the cart return doors.
They have 3 doors in a row with Liftmasters on them.
The middle door uses both a jack shaft and an extended spring shaft due to no space between the doors.

 

[AA7483]

So it looks like either by getting the adapter or cutting the ceiling I should be able to make it work one way or another. I really hate to use a standard trolly setup because my ladder racks on my work truck wont clear.

 

[gnpenning]

Are you putting in a lift?

If not Trolley openers mount above the door. If your truck clears the door it will clear the opener.....

 

[kbs2244]

Look at the PICs
His tracks go too close to the ceiling for an opener above the door

 

[The Big M]

I had the same issue, where the torsion spring was very close to the ceiling:



AndyL solved it with the 480LM kit on an 8500.

 

[gnpenning]

Look at the PICs
His tracks go too close to the ceiling for an opener above the door

He keeps mentioning the opener would interfere with his truck going in and out. That's the part I addressed, nothing else. Going by the drum size, he has at least 4" of room above the top of the track. Trolley openers only need 2". There are options for mounting the header end of the opener.

I could care less which opener he chooses. But to say the opener will interfere with his truck is incorrect and the only thing I was addressing.

 

[AA7483]

Yea the tracks are very close to the ceiling. Probably like 3.5 inches. Definitely want to stick with the jackshaft if I can make it work.

 

[AA7483]

Going to order this thing and get that alternate mounting kit and hope it works out. Any big advantage to the 8500w over the 8500?