another garage door question - what opener?
 

my cheapo chain drive Genie GD opener conked out

what should I get?

Chambers seems good, BUT I have a bunch of the Genie Intellicode remotes + a keypad on the wall outside... maybe $150 worth of remotes etc.

should I get another Genie model? If so, which one?

thx all.

How does this work into the biological weapon? Bomb bay door?

+1 to radioactive.

That is what I use. I was able to keep my same outdoor keypad from my old opener.

I've had a Genie shaft drive for more than 10 years and still works well. Quiet too. Installed another one at a second property last year.

Is the problem with the chain drives the fact that the chain will stretch and jump track?

not sure; the chains are noisier tho

I pulled mine apart & could never figure out exactly what was wrong - it was definitely cheaply made & hard to work on...

My Genie shaft drive burned itself out literally after about 14 years use. I replaced it with a chamberlin belt drive. Mucho quiet and was an easy install

Better check with your local garage door dealer about the old remotes and the new unit for compatibility. If they work together, I don't see how you could not get another Genie. I've got a 30 YO Sears and only one remote left. Nothing will work with it. I think it's so old that even the code busters can't open it. And, it's a chain drive. I keep it well lubed.

which is better, a chain drive or a screw drive?

2 co.s install Genie's here - one co. does chain drive & the other does screw drive

the chain drive co. claims those are less maintenance than the screw drives - but my neighbor says screw drive is the way to go (he is non-specific as to why and not at all a 'technical' type guy)

noise is no biggie; vibration might be if it loosens the bolts...

thoughts?

Screw drive seems to be the most recommended....whether it's better or not, I dunno. Ours has functioned well for years (can't remember how many) with the occasional application of lithium white grease to the screw. Oh...it's a Genie brand.

(edit) I would suggest a garage door with no windows...there is a not so cute video on the net about how to open a garage from the outside by using a long wire to unhook the opener's "power off" feature.

Same story here. My 7 yr old Genie chain drive (installed by builder) died a couple weeks back. Local garage door company wanted $500 for a new belt drive unit installed. After a bit of research I went with a Chamberlin 3/4 HP belt drive. Came with 2 remotes, a key chain remote, and a wireless keypad for $225 at Lowes. I installed myself in ~ 4 hours and only reused the existing angle bracket hangers. Most of the time was spent routing/tacking the sensor wires in an attractive manner. Very very quiet movement compared to the chain drive it replaced.

Marantec. Super quiet. You wouldn't know if its on, but you wouldn't find it at Home Depot. The only complain is that its slow. 30% slower then others. Who the heck really cares. Great unit. I wouldn't put anything else in my client's home.

thx for the info - already have the door etc. (will check on window security) - also opener has to be a Genie brand to match my remotes

Just block the windows of your door if it has has windows. The technique I saw on the video resembles the use of a coathanger to pull up a car door lock. Bad guys need to look through a window for the technique to work. New openers should come with remotes.