Time to give up on the old Genie Garage door opener. It is about 15 years old and flaky in the circuit board. Had to fix this and that not too long ago. So how good are the rubber belt ones? How long can I hope one will last? Is it like timing belts, change every 60K? Where do I find a good deal on one?
Garage door openers
- Thread starter labman
- Start date
- Status
The only reason to go with a belt driven unit is for the quietness. A screw driven unit is going to work just as well if not better but will be a little bit louder. The belt type are a little slower...and the screw type a little smoother. You usually pay a little more for the belt type. They will both last equally as long, so long as the door is properlly balanced(sprung)...there really isnt a belt change interval, but a good low temp greese will usually quiet a noisey screw driven opener.
Hope this helps some
Hope this helps some
Dad claimed the "chain type" was the most reliable...so he bought one back toward the end of '04.
Bought the top-of-the-line Chain Drive Craftsmen model (1/2HP) for $200 (little less probably) and had a local shop install it for $75.
Works fine...noise isn't too bad...
Has fancy features...keypad device mounted externally...programmable remote controls,etc
Bought the top-of-the-line Chain Drive Craftsmen model (1/2HP) for $200 (little less probably) and had a local shop install it for $75.
Works fine...noise isn't too bad...
Has fancy features...keypad device mounted externally...programmable remote controls,etc
Just remeber the most important rule in garage door safety is:
The keypad device seems to be an add-on that's programmed into the garage door opener like any regular remote...it's wireless.
I had to figure out how to reprogram mine when I moved into this house, and the instructions were to push the button on the back of the opener to put it into program mode, and then to enter the 4-digit code you want into the remote and press enter.
I had to figure out how to reprogram mine when I moved into this house, and the instructions were to push the button on the back of the opener to put it into program mode, and then to enter the 4-digit code you want into the remote and press enter.
I have two chaindrive Craftsmans (matched set) a little Amsoil S2K racing grease and some PB blaster track oil and the buggers are quiet. The chain parts and track will last, but gewd gawd what faggrin moron designed the button logic? I mean the idiot had to try to make it stupid.....no he went and got his PHD in stupid. Wayne, you got one of them fancy movin' graphics for the genius who designed my garage door opener logic?
One of my houses had the screw drive kind. The main problem is the slider threads would get all messed up about every 2 years....
One of my houses had the screw drive kind. The main problem is the slider threads would get all messed up about every 2 years....
LiftMaster 1/3 HP Screw Drive... so smooth that I don't hear the door opening from my bed room, which is over the garage. The 1/2 HP Craftsman that opens my garage section, it will vibrate the floor.
Do NOT buy a chain driven opener, its old antiquated technology...very noisey and jerky, not smooth at all. And if you still feel so compelled to buy a chain driven opener...stay away form the Genie Accelerator models!!! Just dont buy a chain opener!
And the WW cartoon above will never happen now days...thats a Raulph Nadar deal, now ALL door openers have built in safety features that the older openers didnt have.
Id highly recommend a screw driven opener, prefereably with a one piece boom/rail...like the Liftmaster 3220
And the WW cartoon above will never happen now days...thats a Raulph Nadar deal, now ALL door openers have built in safety features that the older openers didnt have.
Id highly recommend a screw driven opener, prefereably with a one piece boom/rail...like the Liftmaster 3220
I second overhead door. I have one of their belt drive openers, quiet and zero maintenance.
What is the longest anybody has had a rubber belt last?
I don't have any experience with belts, but I do know that chains stink. I have a Craftsman 1/2 hp chain drive. It's very reliable, but noisy as all h-e-double hockeysticks. You can hear it on the very opposite side of the house. I sometimes worry about waking the baby. I probably won't replace it soon, but I'm not doing anything to help it's longevity, either. Watch, now I'll be complaining about this thing 30 years from now.
Check out Martin openers.
Buddy of mine is building a new house. He installed new Martin doors and two Martin belt drive openers. He checked around with several installers and they said that these were the best on the market right now.
In all honesty...standing right underneath the opener...you could not hear it at all. It was absolutely amazing!!! The cost...around $300 each.
Buddy of mine is building a new house. He installed new Martin doors and two Martin belt drive openers. He checked around with several installers and they said that these were the best on the market right now.
In all honesty...standing right underneath the opener...you could not hear it at all. It was absolutely amazing!!! The cost...around $300 each.
Stick with the 2 major companies...Chaimberlin(which is Liftmaster and Sears Craftsman) or Genie.
The OverHead Door Company uses product made by Genie, they are Genie openers. Buy the Genie product from another company...and stop recommending that company to freinds and family! Look up some of the BBB reports, watch some news reports. While youre at it look up Precision Door Company(another national franchise)...just be careful when dealing with garage door companies and repairmen...90% of them are shady and price gouging isnt unlikely. First question, Id ask is if they follow a price sheet/list, and ask to see it if at all possible...I know alot of techs will look at your car/house and charge you accordingly! Dont act surprised!
Martin Openers? Who makes them and where can you get parts? Cause some day that belts gonna break or the gear is going to strip...10 years from now is that company you are dealing with still gonna be in business?
For example...Stanley. Stanleys garage door division filed bancrupcy over 5 years ago...there are no parts available for those units...so when your spring wears out, your opners designed failure point(usually the gear, coupler, or trolley) strips(to keep from burning up the motor). These parts are fairly inexpensive at around $39-$79...and if they are no longer available then its time for a new opener! When an opener can easily last 25+ years!
Buy either a Genie, Liftmaster or Sears Craftsman!
The OverHead Door Company uses product made by Genie, they are Genie openers. Buy the Genie product from another company...and stop recommending that company to freinds and family! Look up some of the BBB reports, watch some news reports. While youre at it look up Precision Door Company(another national franchise)...just be careful when dealing with garage door companies and repairmen...90% of them are shady and price gouging isnt unlikely. First question, Id ask is if they follow a price sheet/list, and ask to see it if at all possible...I know alot of techs will look at your car/house and charge you accordingly! Dont act surprised!
Martin Openers? Who makes them and where can you get parts? Cause some day that belts gonna break or the gear is going to strip...10 years from now is that company you are dealing with still gonna be in business?
For example...Stanley. Stanleys garage door division filed bancrupcy over 5 years ago...there are no parts available for those units...so when your spring wears out, your opners designed failure point(usually the gear, coupler, or trolley) strips(to keep from burning up the motor). These parts are fairly inexpensive at around $39-$79...and if they are no longer available then its time for a new opener! When an opener can easily last 25+ years!
Buy either a Genie, Liftmaster or Sears Craftsman!
overhead door owns genie so I guess you shouldn't recommend either.
I have delt with both of my local overhead door franchises and they are both reputable. the door and opener they installed on my garage are as fine of quality as any other doors/openers.
We put Overhead Door doos in all of our buildings (probably 30 doors a year). their commercial stuff is top notch and we've had zero problems with them.
Well if youve got 2 choices for the OHDC then good, theyve got to compete against eachother...probably makes them more honest that way. Weather Genie owns them or not, is moot. Genie makes a good product and they stand behind it...often times the OHDC will put thier customers off for days and weeks at a time...and if the product is the OHDC brand, you are at thier mercy.
I personally am not a fan of national service franchises that sell their own special brand of product...if you are going to buy a Genie, then buy a Genie, but realise its the service after the sale that you are also buying.
Commercial doors are an enitrely different monster.
I personally am not a fan of national service franchises that sell their own special brand of product...if you are going to buy a Genie, then buy a Genie, but realise its the service after the sale that you are also buying.
Commercial doors are an enitrely different monster.
So does anybody have a history on the rubber belts or not?
- Status
