What are the options for low ceiling garage?

[seiyafan]

I ordered two Chamberlain WD832KEV garage openers because we have bedrooms above the garage so I wanted the quietest one. However when I tried to install it today I realized the ceiling was not high enough, it was 7'7'' from the floor to the ceiling and the opening was 6'8''. The clearance between the door panel to the ceiling when the door was opened was only 1.5 inches, too narrow for the track. Is there any garage opener that can accommodate my garage and also provides super quiet operation? Thanks!

 

[jhochst]

There are probably many more people then me that have better advice. I just installed 3 liftmaster 8500's. super sweet and super quite. They wall mount on a torsion bar. Check out liftmaster.com

 

[seiyafan]

Sweet! I thought I was completely out of luck.

 

[seiyafan]

It looks like the 8500 can only be used on torsion spring garage door, but I have extension spring. So what are my options now? Convert to torsion spring?

 

[AndyL]

not quite

super sneaky's ... http://www.supersneaky.com/lohbracketsnew.htm

Yes you get a thud on close - but it works...

 

[upndown]

not quite

super sneaky's ... http://www.supersneaky.com/lohbracketsnew.htm

Yes you get a thud on close - but it works...

I was going to suggest possibly using Quick Turn Brackets, but those super sneaky's look pretty interesting, unfortunately i've not seen those used in the field yet. How do they compare to QTB?

 

[seiyafan]

How well does the top part of the door hold after it's closed?

It looks like either the Super Sneaky or the Quick Turn is easier to install than the low headroom conversion kit, right? After all I just need more extra inch of clearance for the Chamberlain.

 

[jhochst]

There is an adapter for getting extra clearance. I'll try to find link

 

[jhochst]

http://www.northshorecommercialdoor.com/limo48rjo38a.html

 

[seiyafan]

Eventually I went with quick turn bracket, it works flawlessly.

 

[AndyL]

I was going to suggest possibly using Quick Turn Brackets, but those super sneaky's look pretty interesting, unfortunately i've not seen those used in the field yet. How do they compare to QTB?

Whoops missed that.
Same basic principle - same results, seem to be less problematic over the longer term...

Around these parts they've become the norm, haven't seen a qtb in a few years now...

 

[upndown]

Thanks!

 

[wintermute]

Those are interesting! I was looking at the Liftmaster 8500 requirements and they say it's not compatible with low-headroom kits due to the immediate backwards movement of the top panel, which doesn't make a lot of sense as even with a dual-track kit, there's a large (truncated) radius for the top roller.

I might try those super sneaky brackets if I replace my iDrive.

 

[CNGsaves]

OP, any pics of where you're at right now??

Did you convert to torsion spring??

 

[seiyafan]

OP, any pics of where you're at right now??

Did you convert to torsion spring??

It's all finished. And no I didn't covert to torsion because there was not enough space to put it above the door.

 

[AndyL]

Those are interesting! I was looking at the Liftmaster 8500 requirements and they say it's not compatible with low-headroom kits due to the immediate backwards movement of the top panel, which doesn't make a lot of sense as even with a dual-track kit, there's a large (truncated) radius for the top roller.

I might try those super sneaky brackets if I replace my iDrive.

The super sneakies and quick turns - are meant to work with a traditional opener - using the j arm to flip them forward for a positive seal. Some of the quick turn style systems may work with it, but I'm not sure which brands those are...

3800/8500 aren't compatible with the double track because they won't open fully - they typically can't get the last 3-4" of height due to the lower radius track - once the bottom roller hits the apex of the track - it can't go farther. Balance tends to be an issue here too.

 

[Slednut]

My friend had the same problem, we made an opener arm out of 3/4 inch conduit that was a little longer than the height of the door. Mounted the opener forward in the garage and made a bracket for the opener mount that usually goes against the header. It's worked flawlessly for years now. It did take up a lot of the ceiling space in the garage though.