Garage door opener

[sc_rufctr]

A recent shoulder injury prompted me to buy and install a garage door opener. I could always lift the door but I figured why not spoil myself.
Easy install if you follow the instructions and as long as your existing door is smooth and balanced you shouldn't have any problems. I did this on my own using a jack and long bar to lift the door. It would have been much easier if I had help.

Just one thing. These doors have two big springs that are under tension. Make sure you tie the door and secure it properly BEFORE releasing the U bolts on the brackets.
My door winds over two times to put enough tension in the springs to assist lifting so I had to unwind them two times so there was no tension in the spring.
Once the motor was installed I had to rewind them two times to get the assistance correct.

If in doubt don't even try this... Pay a pro to do it for you.

So after I was finished I took my 911 for a drive and as I used the door opener for the first time. I felt pretty chuffed sitting there watching it open up like Aladdin's cave
I know most people here probably have these but I enjoyed doing the project and someone else might find this helpful.

Before photo. My house is about 30 years old and near the ocean. So the doors and hardware aren't pristine.



Installed pics.







The remotes supplied. Each button can be programmed with any function.

[sc_rufctr]

97 views and no posts?

Are you guys trying to tell me something?

[Joeaksa]

Yea here is a post. I am hoping that I never have to fuss with mine!

[sc_rufctr]

Agree not a fun prospect but once finished I felt very proud of myself.

I had to lift the door to get the motor over the pipe so I had to unwind it. Normally you'd remover the bracket after securing the door but as you can see from the photos my braket was holding two doors.
The other option would be to put the motor on the other side so you could remove the braket without unwinding the door.

Years ago I got a quote from a pro. He wanted to replace both doors because he wouldn't guarantee his work if he didn't. His quote was $1800 in total!
This opener cost me $350 but it's the heavy duty one designed to open double doors so it should be trouble free.

[Baz]

Nice job Peter! My garage door didn't have one either when I bought my place back in '96 so I installed one too. My door is fiberglass so I have a chain drive Genie, which works pretty good.