I just recently bought a house with a monkey wards garage door opener. The house was built in '78 and I assume the opener is original to the house. The opener works just fine but I only have one remote. I'd like another remote, but what I really want is a key pad on the outside of the house. I tried one of those universal remotes (I think it's just called a "clicker") but the opener doesn't have a "learn" button or dip switches. It just shows the frequency on the back of it. Does anybody know of any other universals I can try? Or is it time to buy a new opener.
Montgomery wards garage door opener
- Thread starter jowwo
- Start date
BillK
Well-known member
Jo,
I think my Sears opener is just about the same age. The dip switches are inside of the unit and you have to remove a cover to get to them. An easy way to find out is to take the remote apart and see if it has dip switches in it. Most of those vintage openers were all made by the same company. I just recently got a new drive gear for mine at a local garage door place.
If there are no dip switches then the remote must have been matched to the opener by some other method ?
I think my Sears opener is just about the same age. The dip switches are inside of the unit and you have to remove a cover to get to them. An easy way to find out is to take the remote apart and see if it has dip switches in it. Most of those vintage openers were all made by the same company. I just recently got a new drive gear for mine at a local garage door place.
If there are no dip switches then the remote must have been matched to the opener by some other method ?
upndown
Well-known member
Don't waste your money on a 36 year opener! Time for an up-grade. 
nehog
Well-known member
This...Don't waste your money on a 36 year opener! Time for an up-grade.
But if you must, Sears (and most other places that sell GD opener supplies and parts) carries receivers and remotes to update/upgrade the original opener.
Suggestion: if you install a new receiver, cut off the original receiver's antenna short, and connect it to the opener's chassies so the receiver is disabled. They are not very secure, and will open for almost anything.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
If the opener just has a frequency written on the side it's most likely not compatible with any modern digital controllers. You'd need an opener that transmits that exact frequency.
Thanks for the replies fellas. Seems like by the time I buy a new receiver and remotes etc. I'm pretty well on the way to the total cost of a new opener anyway. I think there's a craftsman 3/4 horse on sale for $200 right now. Might as well go that route. This ancient MW sure does work nice though.