need a new garage door opener

[cookiedough]

mine pucked out last night trying to close it in -1 degree temps.  The chain drive gearing inside will work only when the chain is not hooked up but once I engage it in the locking mechanism of the chain, it runs but the sprocket in back jars back and forth does not move makes all kinds of noise, guessing something broke inside will take side covers off and top to see if can be fixed but doubt it is 23 years old served its useful life I guess?

Been looking at Chamberlain over Genie brand and menards extreme brand.  chamberlain 1/2 hp is fine since 2 car garage door uninsulated vinyl and very light.

Cannot decide on belt or chain drive though both about same price.  Never had one issue in 23 years with a chain drive but I know belt driven is quieter.  Screw drives are out since even more money yet.

Chamberlain also has myQ system where since only have 2 remotes,  can thru internet router hookup use an app to your smartphone to use your phone to open/close garage door vs. buying and needing2 more remotes since have 3 vehicles and 2 cycles. 

Once gets warmer into the 20's going to take it apart first though an old Stanley lightmaker 1/2hp chain drive to see inside and run it with cover off to see if the gear drive snapped or is loose or something, but guessing is shot after 23 years of hard use daily. 

What did we ever do in the 80's and prior before garage door openers??  I can easily manually lift our 2 door garage door is vinyl and light, but am sure in zero degree temps sort of sucks getting out to close the door and open it prior to starting vehicle in the garage.

What is a good, reliable, affordable mfg. that will last me another 20+ years.  I know I want lifetime warranty on motor for sure since that is most likely to go bad and want a company that will be in business some 20+ years later since my Stanley model even though has lifetime warranty on motor is NO Good since Stanley no longer makes garage door openers got bought out decades or more ago and will not stand behind my unit anymore since no longer make openers. One good reason I will never buy a Stanley product ever again even in tools. 

[f6john]

    Chamberlin or Liftmaster belt drive. Latest models have a soft close feature that's nice. Put one up for my Mother last year (has battery backup) has been great so far. Belt drive is cleaner and more quiet in operation.

[Roidfingers]

    Chamberlin or Liftmaster belt drive. Latest models have a soft close feature that's nice. Put one up for my Mother last year (has battery backup) has been great so far. Belt drive is cleaner and more quiet in operation.

I have a screw drive and I have to grease it every 3 months or so. And its pretty loud even with new grease. Next one will be the chamberlain belt drive above.

[BF]

I put in a new Genie chain drive when we bought the townhome 10 years ago.  Haven't had one issue with it since then. 

It's not all that quiet, but the only thing I have to do to it is spray lube the tracks once every year or so. 

I did have the spring fly apart on me a couple years ago, but that's part of the door, not the Genie. 

[Alberta Patriot]

You might want to give this one a serious look. No chains or belts, no overhead parts at all....and virtually impossible to jimmy from the outside(if power is out there is a safety release on the unit)another bonus...they come with a light fixture that can be put anywhere you want that is triggered by operating the opener, or by occupants near the unit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OvASlrpBns

https://www.liftmaster.com/for-homes/garage-door-openers/elite-series/model-8500

[0leman]

Our genie screw garage door opener cratered this fall after 24 years of service, didn't have the sensors on to keep door from closing.  Only had to grease it once a year. 

Went down to local Sears store and found a craftsman chain opener on sale for less than $100.  took a couple of hours to remove old door opener and install new one.  We live in a relative small town with limited folks who sale garage door openers.  (except for genie and craftsman)  Seems that  chamberlain makes craftsman garage door openers. 

Not saying the chain drive is quiet, but don't spend a lot of time listening to the door open and close.

[Wizzard]

I have 2 chamberlain chain drives that are 25 yrs old and still work with no problems at all

[Earl43P]

I vividly recall paying ~$12.00 to get all the internal gears to repair my 20+ year old Craftsman opener. I SEEM to recall being on the ladder something like ten whole minutes to effect the repair.

Just sayin'

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sears-Chamberlain-Craftsman-Garage-Door-Opener-Comp-Gear-Kit-Part-41A2817-/131441752695?hash=item1e9a89fa77:g:CU0AAOSwOyJX8zMB

[cookiedough]

I vividly recall paying ~$12.00 to get all the internal gears to repair my 20+ year old Craftsman opener. I SEEM to recall being on the ladder something like ten whole minutes to effect the repair.

Just sayin'

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sears-Chamberlain-Craftsman-Garage-Door-Opener-Comp-Gear-Kit-Part-41A2817-/131441752695?hash=item1e9a89fa77:g:CU0AAOSwOyJX8zMB

I am going to take it apart and see if the gearing inside is broken since I do have my dads old stanley garage door opener that the motor does not work at all burned out but mine spins and works when NOT hooked the door to chain,  just think the internal gearing is bad inside, under  where the chain hooks up on top of the sprocket wheel.  It jiggles somewhat vs. my dads so guessing that might be it but is under 5 degrees for temps and will have to wait to rip it all apart.

I might get lucky on the repair (doubt it) or spend 200 bucks on a new chamberlain belt drive unit with the myQ system with lifetime belt and motor warranty.    I am use to chain drive but they do say belt drive is just as good and quieter as well. 

Not doing it anytime soon though since 5-9 inches of snow starting yet again tomorrow and into saturday then strong winds kicking in and sundays high ZERO degrees - NUTS!!! 

[baird4444]

http://www.aaaremotes.com/

the place to go for manuals, instructions, and parts.
I have used for parts several times, great resource!
           - Mike

[f6john]

      I'm sure you will find the plastic gears chewed up given the information you have provided. 2 possible causes. One being age and yours qualifies. The other is the door itself being out of adjustment. Could be a combo of both. Make sure the door is counter balanced properly or your new gears won't last long. Disconect the door from the operator and manually operating the door will tell you alot. The door should stop anywhere along it's travel and not fall back down or continue rising.

[pais]

   I installed a Craftsman belt drive on our  doublewide fiberglass insulated door  in Nov of 2001. Trouble free, quiet (which is why I bought it), still going strong and I'm knocking on wood as I type this 

[longrider]

F6John has it right.  More than likely a need for the door to be adjusted.   I adjust the springs so the door will hold at its midpoint of travel.   I have the 1/2 hp belt with my q and  I do like the features on it

Warren

[dragonslayer]

Mine crapped out like that and I found the bushing that the gear rides on wore out.Fixable but not worth the effort.I had a junker that the motor didn't work and switched motors.Alls good and lubed bushing before install.If I didn't have parts I would have bought new.

[Atl-Jerry]

The last one I bought was a Craftsman chain drive that is as quite as a mouse.  Also is neworked so I can see if it's onen or closed from my iphone and I get alerts when it opens or closes.  I think I paid $129 in 2013 on sale.

[LL]

I really like my Craftsman belt drive, battery backup, Smart GDO. The LCD wall control with temp display, remote set capability and overall quiet operation adds to the setup.

I will say one thing, the back-up battery lays on it's side in the motor case. LLuckily while replacing the onboard CFL's with LED lamps one day I noticed a couple small "puddle" like spots in one of the lamp covers. Turns out it was from the battery and parked right below that was a red 2011 GS.

I'd still buy another one (Garage Door Opener).   

[f6john]

F6John has it right.  More than likely a need for the door to be adjusted.   I adjust the springs so the door will hold at its midpoint of travel.   I have the 1/2 hp belt with my q and  I do like the features on it

Warren

The half way test is a good one but you also want to check about 12 to 18 inches off the ground to make sure it doesn't fall from that height. Reason being, when the door is down it will put the most stress on the gears if the door is out of adjustment.

[cookiedough]

      I'm sure you will find the plastic gears chewed up given the information you have provided. 2 possible causes. One being age and yours qualifies. The other is the door itself being out of adjustment. Could be a combo of both. Make sure the door is counter balanced properly or your new gears won't last long. Disconect the door from the operator and manually operating the door will tell you alot. The door should stop anywhere along it's travel and not fall back down or continue rising.

yah,  am sure the gears are chewed up but will not be able to get to look at it and take it apart until it warms up next week into the 20s again.  BRRRR sunday is -2 for a high with 6 inches snow coming our way next 30 hours starting NOW.     

I do have exact same model Stanley lightmaker opener made in 1993 identical to mine to take apart in the house to see possible parts to replace  hopefully.  If it does not work out,  chamberlain myQ 1/2 hp belt drive with lifetime warranty on motor/belt is my next step at around 180 bucks on sale hopefully soon.  Would be nice as well to just buy new since for several yeas the stanley lightmaker opener light bulbs in front quit working several years ago and NO, is not just needing new light bulbs..

My lightweigt uninsulated vinyl sectioned 2-car door is not out of align since very easy to lift by hand.  It does though fall down 2-3 feet from closing on its own but also stays put 1/2 way up/down and since so lightweight,  any 1/2 hp motor should do for years to come.  AFter all, my 1/2 hp prior lasted me 23 years with same garage door.  My guess is the ZERO degree temp and guessing plastic gearing inside something cracked inside or chewed up not allowing any movement once the door chain was hooked up to it.  Just chain alone goes up/down fine without hooking/locking in the door in that latch of the chain drive though.

[Rams]

What I wouldn't recommend is a Lift Master Pro Series, I think that's what they are called.   It's the kind of opener that is located on the side of the garage door, not in the center.   Gear Driven.   Had one put on my shop garage door.   Got that version because it was recommended due to the size of my shop door and the fact that it's an insulated door making it heavier.  

After about the forth or fifth service call under warranty and with the warranty running out, I started fixing it myself.   I did as well as the professional service guys but, there was always an issue.   Finally gave up and just open it by hand.    I really liked the fact that the motor and drive gear were offset, my shop has a lift and the lack of all that mechanical linkage not being in the center of the garage door support rails allows me to put taller vehicles on my lift.   Some may have had better luck with their openers of this type, I could not recommend another one.