Garage Door Openers: Belt or Chain

JPM · 02-02-2010, 10:06 AM

I am getting ready to do some work on my garage doors.

I have 15+ year old Sears 1/2 HP chain garage door openers. The doors are in decent shape, the tracks stay greased. I may replace some rollers. The big challenge is the openers.

Questions:
1. Belt vs Chain, what is better?
2. Can I rewire whatever drive purchased to the mounted openers on the wall? OR should I replace them as well?
3. How hard to install seperate key pad (I have an old one that came with the house but do not know the code).
4. How do I determine an appropriate amount of slack on the chain? They look a little "loose" right now.

Thanks

RegeSullivan · 02-02-2010, 05:06 PM

1. I prefer a belt, less vibration, less noise.
2. Use the wire but replace the controls.
3. The new ones are wireless. Just two screws, no problems if you change the batt one a year.
4. The chain should be not touch the rail. Adjust it so it is 1/8" or so off the rail when at rest.

acerunner · 02-02-2010, 08:25 PM

second vote for belt for same reason. Also, you don't need to lube it like with chains.
It is normal for chain or belt to stretch over time.

firehawkmph · 02-02-2010, 09:06 PM

Ditto on the belts.
One other thing though, there is absolutely no reason to grease the tracks. I don't know who started that years ago, but every other old door I replace has greasy tracks. All this does is attract dirt and make a mess. Buy steel rollers with ball bearing and once a year shoot a little white lithium grease on the ball bearings, that's it. Greasing the tracks is kind of like greasing the roads, it just doesn't make sense.
If you want a nice belt drive, check out the liftmaster 3580, very quiet.
Mike Hawkins

ovahimba · 02-02-2010, 11:06 PM

Most garage door openers around here are screw drive. Belts can break over time.

JPM · 02-05-2010, 09:11 PM

THANKS for the info.

I have been looking into the openers and have a question ....

Am I correct in thinking that CHAMBERLAIN openers are made by the same company as LIFTMASTER?

They look similar and the ads describe things in a similar manner.

firehawkmph · 02-05-2010, 10:10 PM

Same company JP.
Mike Hawkins

RegeSullivan · 02-08-2010, 05:09 PM

""Most garage door openers around here are screw drive. Belts can break over time.""

My experience is the opener breaks long before the belt goes... The belts the seem similar to the serpentine belt in your car.

Rege

Willie T · 02-08-2010, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ovahimba

Most garage door openers around here are screw drive. Belts can break over time.

Another vote for screw drives. IMHO, the only way to go.

brokenknee · 02-08-2010, 09:19 PM

My vote is for a belt drive, mainly because they are quiet. I believe the better units have belts that are made of Kevlar so they are very strong. Maybe they all do now, I do not know.

Below is a snip from about.com on openers. http://garages.about.com/od/garagema...ageDoorBuy.htm

Garage Door Openers: Belt or Chain-gdo.jpg

hidden 1 · 02-09-2010, 09:25 PM

What is the door size that a 1/3 hp can lift up to ,non-insulated?

firehawkmph · 02-09-2010, 09:30 PM

If the door is properly sprung, you should be able to lift it easily with one hand. That 1/3 hp could lift a 16 x 7 door, but I never hang the smaller openers. Everything I use is either 1/2 or 3/4 hp. Around here I can't tell you how many screw drives I have taken down that were still working because they are so noisy. Sure you can grease the screw and it quiets down for a little while, until it dumps a blob of grease on top of your car. I also like installing openers with internal limit controls over the flipper switches on the rails. Also, I have never seen a belt break on one. Not to say that it couldn't happen, but very unlikely.
Mike Hawkins

Quote:

Originally Posted by hidden 1

What is the door size that a 1/3 hp can lift up to ,non-insulated?

hidden 1 · 02-09-2010, 09:51 PM

-thanks
I already have one so i will try it out1/3 hp..I wont be opening it daily since it is detatched so it will not be used as often.I hope it will handle the 16' steel door ok (non insulated)...any info is appreciated.

I was going to install the torsion spring till i saw it could kill ya...lol

JDunsmore · 12-08-2010, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brokenknee

My vote is for a belt drive, mainly because they are quiet. I believe the better units have belts that are made of Kevlar so they are very strong. Maybe they all do now, I do not know.

Below is a snip from about.com on openers. http://garages.about.com/od/garagema...ageDoorBuy.htm

Attachment 17562

I agree with the poster above - belt drives are the way to go.

Ron6519 · 12-08-2010, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hidden 1

What is the door size that a 1/3 hp can lift up to ,non-insulated?

Any opener can open any door. The springs do all the work, the opener just guides the door. The lower HP openers have fewer options included.
The door should be checked before the opener is installed to make sure the springs are adjusted correctly and that they are the correct springs for the weight of the door.
Ron