Ray

I want to replce my existing garage door opener. Mine is loud and very slow. I went to LOWES the other day and saw demo and it appears the newer door openers are much better. I have a chain drive and it's about 5 years old. LOWES(and Home Depot) have a 1/2HP "screw" drive and it's 50% faster going up and normal coming down but it's very, very quiet. It's called a "Genie Excelerator" and it's $250.00. I don't have a remote kepad outside my garage and this comes with one. Is installing the remote kepad difficult? Here it is.....

http://www.geniecompany.com/Products/excelerator.htm


I then checked out Sears and their best is a 3/4HP chain drive part number 953990 at $230.00. Sears says this is quiet and 50% faster like the Genie but no demo to prove it. This is a CHAIN drive so I don't know how it could be quieter. The opener itself looks big with 2-100 watt bulbs and you can adjust the bulb off/on time. I saw a belt drive opener too at Sears but the salesperson didin't know much about it! Sears also offers a "75th Anniversery" screw drive opner at $169.99. Here .....

http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summ...id=00953991000

Here is Sears "top of the line" opener......


http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summary/productsummary.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1218474356.104 3602340@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdfadchgihheddcehgcemgdff mdflg.0&vertical=TOOL&fromAuto=YES&bidsi te=&pid=00953990000

Does anybody here have experience with Sears garage door openers or how they compare to the Genie Excelerator?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

SixPak

I don't know about the genie excelerator for $250.
but I just put in a genie 1/2 hp door lift, it came with 2 remotes and one I can bolt to the outside of my house if I want, with a keypad for a numeric code. it cost me $137.95 from home depot. it took me about two hours to take the old one out and put the new one in. it has the screw drive which is faster, but right away I noticed was noisier. I personally would stay away from the sears chain drive model. my friend put one in two years ago and it just took a dump this past week. piece of crap if you ask me. the one I replaced was a chain drive. lasted 8 years, and I adjusted the chain 2 or three times.
the screw drive model just looks more durable and you don't have to jack around with those chains.
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

Toxic Texan

I have the "Genie Excelerator" and it kicks ***. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> The remote keypad is easy to install. It is wireless and you just mount it and program it to the opener. It is fast going up. <img border="0" alt="[burn out]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_burnout.gif" /> If you have any other questions let me know.

Ray

Thanks Toxic Texan for helping me make a decison! What do you know about the Craftsman belt drive opener? A guy told me they are very quiet but he can't confirm the speed........

Thanks again and I just may bit the bullet and buy the "Excellerator" at $250.00! My door works fine now..... I'm just trying to justify spending the $$ for a better door. My door is slow and loud..... drives me nuts sometimes! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

Toxic Texan

This one is quiet. All you hear is the door moving. <a href="http://www.geniecompany.com/Products/excelerator.htm" target="_blank">Here is some more info for ya. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> </a>

SRFCTY

I've had a Sears chain drive for 10 years with no problems, but it is a little loud. From what I understand there are kits out that help reduce the noise by using rubber washers where the opener mounts to the brackets. It may still sound loud, but the key is whether it reduces some of the noise going into the house (for those of us with attached garages). The one thing I like about some of the new Sears models is the rolling code technology that makes it hard for anyone to steal your code and open your door. I have been looking for a new opener, and I would like to find one with a 1-piece track instead of the current 3-piece, to hopefully reduce some of the vibration (and noise). Good luck with your search.

duveman2

. If anyone knows of a better garage door opener then let me know!

duveman2

I am looking for a garage door opener that doesn't use plastic gears like Sears brand openers. They say the motor will last for ten years but the cheap gears wear out before the motor.

98catfish

iTrader: (13)

I have been in the garage door business for 25 yrs and take it from me all openers have plastic drives of some sort. You best bet is to find a door company that will sell you a professional opener(1 pc rail). Choose the brand you want cause you wont be happy with it if you get something else.
My professional opinion is Liftmaster is by far the best opener on the market... I say this because I do less warranty work on this brand then I do on any other unit.
Oh Btw sears openers are made by Chamberlain Group same as Liftmaster.
The No 1 reason for opener failure is poor door maintainence.

As for the Genie excellerator...Why do you need it to open 50% faster? You cant drive into the garage 50% faster. No seriously though A faster opener just causes door problems to arise faster. Also the heavier the door is the more stress on the door and operator.

If you feel your door is in optimum shape and you just can't wait an extra 3 seconds to get in your house then go for it.
I have taken down more Excellerator openers in the past 3 yrs then i have all other brands combined in the past 5 yrs.
My opinion is... If you can spare most of a saturday then get a sears or liftmaster and do it yourself. However if your free time is valuable to you you would be better off to let a pro do it because you wont waste an extra saturday trying to diagnose a problem it will be covered under warranty. Also Home Depot, Sears, And Lowes are not door companys they have subs to do the work and will take twice as long to do warranty work because they dont stock any replacement parts. They will have to come to your house and decipher the problem then go through the mfgr. to get parts then return to complete repair.A legitimate door company will be able to repair your opener with 1 visit as well as service your door as part of the Install.
A typical door opener for a chain drive opener(Most Durable)should cost you between 275.00 and 325.00 depending on what bells and whistles come with the unit you decide on.
A Genie will typically cost 15% more. You are paying for the name!

I hope this helps you to decide.
Doug

jimmyblue

iTrader: (11)

Question is whether the load bearing parts are plastic, on the Sears
older chain drives the plastic gears are between the motor and the
sprocket, they may wear but they are seeing reduced force / torque.
Some of the screw drives are quiet because the "nut" is plastic. How
good a plastic?

If I replace my doors / openers it will be with the industrial type roll up.
I currently have old ('60s) solid panel doors, had plenty of trouble
with the segmented particle board doors on the old house and both
use up valuable overhead space that could be used for suspended
"junk lofts". Or lift posts. Roll up door with an all metal motor drive
and a backup chain pull, yes sir.

98catfish

iTrader: (13)

Like I said earlier ALL openers have a plastic driveline of some sort. The main thing to consider is how the actual door is maintained. The NO.1 reason for opener failure is poor door maintainence.
Most openers will last 7 to 10 yrs as long as you do proper maintainence except the Excellerator you will most likely be replacing them in less than five years. Now jimmy.. your right for the most part except for the rollup style doors require more Headroom above the door than a regular sectional door however the only take up more space right at the opening and do not protrude into the space necessary for a lift.
There are a couple of drawbacks to a rollup door on a residential application,They are on average double the cost or more as a residential raised panel steel door. They can be insulated but not very well and the cost to insulate is prohibitive and you cant seal the opening from air coming around the door. The main problem is they look like a commercial ribbed door which does not fit in a subdivision. Now.. thats not to say they are not a good door or a good value I'm just saying that style door is only for people who dont live in a subdivision or have a wife. J/K.
Doug

Xsta Z 28

iTrader: (2)

Re-birth of a 4 year old post . . . nice!

billyb

iTrader: (15)

excelerator 5 years here got @ lowes,that door flies up, every body is amazed with the speed

sv650lex

I'm a garage door service tech in MN and I've seen just about all of them. I'm not a big fan of the genie openers especially the screw drives. They tend to make a loud squelling after a lot of use. The sears/craftsman openers are made by chaimberlan who also makes liftmaster. I prefere these because installation is easier. The way they make the chain drives quiet is with a chain spreader by the rear sprocket. As far as belt drives go. you can't go wrong they are the most quiet. They also tend to last the longest because the belt absorbs any jarring from the door unlike the chain or the screw drives.

As far as the speed goes the screw drive is the fastest, But the faster the opener the faster it wears out the door.

Also if you get a chance, pick up some , the springs up top and on the inside of the vertical tracks were it looks like the rollers rub. You will be surprised how much this quiets it down. Use enough to coat the stuff but it doesnt need to be running off.

intense3123

God I love ls1tech. You can even get help from professional garage door installers with 25 years experience.

98catfish

iTrader: (13)

I think thats what he meant to say!
Doug

shep28

iTrader: (4)

After a nighborhood power outage I had to open and close my electric
(center torsion mount spring) garage door manually. When power was restored one of the garage door rollers came out of the track the first time I used power to open the door. So, I had to go to work with the garage door up and thousands of dollars worth of equipment and my stored camaro sitting out with the door open!!!!!!!!!

I had a "handy man" correct the issue- he put the roller back in the track and then loosened the screws that held on of the cable pulleys located above the right side of the doors. I chose this man because he came recommended and the three other estimates I got from garage door companies ranged between 500-$700 for a wide range of fixes that did not make sense. Mr. Handyman unwound the cable and then wound it back up. This corrected the problem and the door was pretty level.

This was done at night. The next day I noticed that the side of the door he adjusted is slightly lower when closed than the left hand side of the door.

I am assume that the lower side of the door has less tension on it than the other side- the cable on the weaker side is not as tight/more play than the other side.

How can I adjust this?

98catfish

iTrader: (13)

ABSOLUTELY DO NOT TOUCH THE SPRINGS OR THE CABLES!!!!!!!!!!!!
CALL A REPUTABLE DOOR COMPANY TO FIX THIS ISSUE.
I KNOW I'M SCREAMING BUT ITS THAT IMPORTANT!! THOSE SPRINGS CAN AND WILL CAUSE SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH... YES I SAID DEATH!!!

I will try not to scream this, please call a door company. I cant think of a single reason your handy man should have touched the spring mechanism for a simple roller out.
A reputable door company shouldnt charge more than 100.00 tops to fix your door.
A piece of advise...there are alot of unsavory people in our business,so look in the phone book and skip the big ads in the front of the garage door section, go to one of the smaller ads in the back( Trust me only the guys ripping off people can afford the big ads) And dont choose a company that charges by the hour or half or any thing like that.A reputable company will charge a flat rate for labor. The price should be service call + parts. Unless there are other problem that I dont know about it should be 65-95.00 for a service call.

Feel free to call me If you have any ?s about what a door company tells you when you talk to them on the phone.
Doug 770-318-6981

backen3

iTrader: (3)

Liftmaster 3800 if you have 10in between your door and the wall and about 10 above best by far in my own opinion. if not the 3850 elite is a 2nd choice if you want a smokin deal on a 3800 I can give you a contact i paid 276 for it and installed it myself you would have to pay shipping and that doesnt include the overhead spring but the best price i could find on one was 330 plus shipping on ebay

SILVERZZ28

iTrader: (3)

I have the sears 3/4 hp with the backup battery and belt drive.

It is very quiet and fast IMO. No issues for a year now!