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bassman
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« on: August 22, 2010, 02:13:34 PM » |
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My current Chamberlain 1/2 hp Professional series GDO is about to be replaced. A replacement with the same model runds about $380 installed...been told they need to be installed by a "professional" and noone locally will sell me a unit to install myself. Soooooo, now looking at the Chamberlain Whisper Drive 3/4 hp belt drive to put in myself. The Sears 53918 (made by Chamberlain I believe), Lowes 248754 and Home Depot HD900D can all be had for about $200 + or -. All haev a battery backup system, motiond-detecting control panel and two remotes. Anyone know for sure if these are in fact the same opener under different model #'s for each store?
Any exerience/thoughts on the belt drive versus chain drive? Each salesperson stated the belt was the superior product (and also cost more) than chain drive.
Chamberlain 1/2 hp chain drive run about $180 right now while the belt drive 3/4 hp can be had on sale this week for about $20-25 more. Belts normally run in the $250-280 range.
Any input would be appreciated.
TIA !!!
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Tundra
Member
Posts: 3882
2014 Valkyrie 1800
Seminole, Florida
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« Reply #1 on: August 22, 2010, 02:26:01 PM » |
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There really is a difference with these. HP matters depending on the door you are lifting and the material or weight the door is made of. Lightweight metal door, heavy insulated door, real heavy wood door ect... Also the size of the door will dictate the size of the opener needed, single car door, double car door ect... I personally would stay away from chain drive if it was my money. There's better out there. Screw drive is very reliable and almost maintenance free. Talk to a good sales person who can qualify your needs, get some knowledge from him or her, then do it yurself if your so inclined.
I believe Chamberlin and Sears are one in the same. I think I remember somewhere that Sears owns Chamberlin or visa versa? However, Chamberlin units are also sold at the Home Depot. I just replaced my 20 year old unit with a Genie screw drive.
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« Last Edit: August 22, 2010, 02:29:48 PM by Tundra »
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If you can't be a good example: be a WARNING!!
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Willow
Administrator
Member
Posts: 16608
Excessive comfort breeds weakness. PttP
Olathe, KS
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« Reply #2 on: August 22, 2010, 02:32:23 PM » |
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Tundra
Member
Posts: 3882
2014 Valkyrie 1800
Seminole, Florida
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« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2010, 02:38:18 PM » |
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On second thought, that one looks MUCH nicer than my screw drive.  |
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If you can't be a good example: be a WARNING!!
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bassman
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« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2010, 05:04:55 PM » |
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Tundra..thanks for the input and valid points....basically have a standard aluminum two car garage door so no excessive weight to deal with.... Willow...excellent choice...HOWEVER, MY wife said I could consider one of these models as soon as YOU have yours in place for a minimum of six months....   |
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Slyk Willy
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« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2010, 07:27:31 PM » |
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Keep in mind it's not the opener that lifts the door. it's the spring system. the opener just pulls it up. the springs should keep the door at whatever level you put the door. there-fore the 1/2 hp should work just fine. and Yes, the belt drive is a great option, smooth and quiet. The chain drive should be lubed every 6-9 months for proper maintaince (of course this never gets done) The battery back-up is good for about 20 cycles w/o electricity so if you lose power often, it's a better option even though it's hp is over-kill. The hd900 at Depot will have the keyless/wireless entry too. The # coded touch pad. I've given the code to the kids if they ever need to get into our house. (no keys floating around.) ALSO... yup Chamberlin makes openers for a number of different retailers including Sears.
Neal, if you need assistance changing yours, give me a call.
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« Last Edit: August 22, 2010, 07:35:18 PM by Slyk Willy »
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Slyk Willy VRCC # 16194
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f6john
Member
Posts: 9341
Christ first and always
Richmond, Kentucky
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« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2010, 08:11:54 PM » |
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Keep in mind it's not the opener that lifts the door. it's the spring system. the opener just pulls it up. the springs should keep the door at whatever level you put the door. there-fore the 1/2 hp should work just fine. and Yes, the belt drive is a great option, smooth and quiet. The chain drive should be lubed every 6-9 months for proper maintaince (of course this never gets done) The battery back-up is good for about 20 cycles w/o electricity so if you lose power often, it's a better option even though it's hp is over-kill. The hd900 at Depot will have the keyless/wireless entry too. The # coded touch pad. I've given the code to the kids if they ever need to get into our house. (no keys floating around.) ALSO... yup Chamberlin makes openers for a number of different retailers including Sears.
Neal, if you need assistance changing yours, give me a call.
+1, and a couple of other thoughts. Your door, if adjusted correctly, should stop anywhere along it's travel without wanting to fall back down or fly all the way up. The gears in most all residential GDO's are made of plastic so that they will fail "usually" before it can tear up a door out of adjustment. You can actually buy repair kits that contain these gears for about $40.00. Just make sure the door is right before installing your new operator or it's life will be reduced. The main thing I dislike about retail store operators is that they give you sectional track that has to be assembled where most professional outlets provide you with a one piece track. |
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alph
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« Reply #7 on: August 23, 2010, 01:48:41 AM » |
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i absolutely hate my garage door opener!! i can not wait till the day that it takes it's final crap and i've got to replace it!! every single year, only in the winter, it breaks on me!! POC!!
anyway, i love Willows youtube video!! excellent idea!! (gatta love british humor!)
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Promote world peace, ban all religion. Ride Safe, Ride Often!!  |
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Slyk Willy
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« Reply #8 on: August 23, 2010, 05:15:19 AM » |
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Keep in mind it's not the opener that lifts the door. it's the spring system. the opener just pulls it up. the springs should keep the door at whatever level you put the door. there-fore the 1/2 hp should work just fine. and Yes, the belt drive is a great option, smooth and quiet. The chain drive should be lubed every 6-9 months for proper maintaince (of course this never gets done) The battery back-up is good for about 20 cycles w/o electricity so if you lose power often, it's a better option even though it's hp is over-kill. The hd900 at Depot will have the keyless/wireless entry too. The # coded touch pad. I've given the code to the kids if they ever need to get into our house. (no keys floating around.) ALSO... yup Chamberlin makes openers for a number of different retailers including Sears.
Neal, if you need assistance changing yours, give me a call.
+1, and a couple of other thoughts. Your door, if adjusted correctly, should stop anywhere along it's travel without wanting to fall back down or fly all the way up. The gears in most all residential GDO's are made of plastic so that they will fail "usually" before it can tear up a door out of adjustment. You can actually buy repair kits that contain these gears for about $40.00. Just make sure the door is right before installing your new operator or it's life will be reduced. The main thing I dislike about retail store operators is that they give you sectional track that has to be assembled where most professional outlets provide you with a one piece track. The single piece track can still be had thru Home Depot. They sell the LiftMaster but only with installation. I think the manufacturer requires that a pro put their product up. No DYI allowed. |
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Slyk Willy VRCC # 16194
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bassman
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« Reply #9 on: August 23, 2010, 05:29:01 AM » |
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Keep in mind it's not the opener that lifts the door. it's the spring system. the opener just pulls it up. the springs should keep the door at whatever level you put the door. there-fore the 1/2 hp should work just fine. and Yes, the belt drive is a great option, smooth and quiet. The chain drive should be lubed every 6-9 months for proper maintaince (of course this never gets done) The battery back-up is good for about 20 cycles w/o electricity so if you lose power often, it's a better option even though it's hp is over-kill. The hd900 at Depot will have the keyless/wireless entry too. The # coded touch pad. I've given the code to the kids if they ever need to get into our house. (no keys floating around.) ALSO... yup Chamberlin makes openers for a number of different retailers including Sears.
Neal, if you need assistance changing yours, give me a call.
Thanks much for the offer Bill and will keep you in mind if I get in "over my head"! I had new springs and roller wheels installed last year as weill as an overall inspection by the spring installer so everything should be good - for now ! |
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Spirited-6
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« Reply #10 on: August 23, 2010, 05:45:56 AM » |
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I just had a "Raynor" 1/2 HP, chain drive installed for a 16` door for $316.00. Lighting strike took out mine along with a hell of a lot of other elect. items.  I think that Chamberlin makes about 80% of GDO out there.  |
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Spirited-6
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Hef
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« Reply #11 on: August 23, 2010, 08:10:13 AM » |
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Hope I don't jinx myself by bragging about it, but I have a Sears chain drive opener which is over 37 years old and still works perfectly. I have replaced the springs once but I have never had to repair the opener. This is not to say you would get the same quality from Sears today because I see a lot of their merchandise not lasting like it did in the good ole days. Their lawn tractors are the best example I can think of as far as a POOR QUALITY item.
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Rocketman
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« Reply #12 on: August 23, 2010, 08:31:10 AM » |
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On second thought, that one looks MUCH nicer than my screw drive. There's a comment in there somewhere, but it's probably not appropriate for a "family site". |
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John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15210
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
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« Reply #13 on: August 23, 2010, 08:56:21 AM » |
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We have a Chamberlin (sp?) chain drive for an oversized 2-car garage, all aluminum door. Been in there since the house was built in 1980, forget the h/p just now. I clean/lube the rail and chain about once a year, had to replace the plastic gears in it once about five years ago which means they lasted about 25 years. Last year lightning knocked out the electronics in it(lightning in Florida??) and it cost approx. $75 for a new panel. The guy came to check it out, took one look and announced the entire unit needed replacing, motor is burned out...didn't test anything. "I can give you a special we're running now, $350 installed." What he didn't know was I had already run some tests myself where I bypassed the control board, wanted to make sure the motor was good...which it was. You just couldn't use the remotes. I told him to get down off the ladder, I stepped up and used my jumpers on it which showed him how badly the motor was burned out....NOT. He got a little PO'd, packed up and left. I called the office and asked for a control board for my model #, went and picked it up, installed it, reprogrammed all the remotes including the one I built in on the bike and all was well. When I was in their office, I talked to the owner about his son who was the so-called service guy. The owner made his son come by and personally install two new springs and it came out of his paycheck according to the dad. Needless to say....I'll continue to use them. Sonny's attitude was quite different on the spring installation call.
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