Overhead Door Lift, Help

[Pilgrim]

I’m thinking about installing some automatic garage door openers in my Morton barn.
Not that I’m lazy, but with the glass eye, wooden leg, porcelain teeth, pigs heart valves and that shunt thing that holds whatever it’s supposed to hold open, open, I figure I’m due.

Yea, I know, “use the FEL to open the garage door, more seat time!” Well, I would have to open the garage door to get the tractor out to open the garage door. You guys are such turkeys!

I have already searched TractorByNet and haven’t come up with any specific purchase/install discussions.

When I wired the barn I put in duplexes where the openers want to be. So power is not an issue.

I have searched Sears and Genie websites for Installation Manuals but no good. I thought if I could read the install manual first I could get an idea of what I’m in for. I do not want to hire a “Certified Automated Overhead Garage Door Installation and Tuning Professional” to do the job. My late father bought twin openers from Sears and had a CAOGDIP install them. What a hack job. They “wired” his garage with extension cords. He was embarrassed to show me their work.

Soooooo, anyone have experience with installation of overhead garage door openers? Is it a one-man job?
Husband and wife project? Four or 20 hour job?

Any input would be appreciated.

Best Regards,
A Connecticut Pilgrim.

 

[Golfgar4]

<font color=blue>"Soooooo, anyone have experience with installation of overhead garage door openers? Is it a one-man job?
Husband and wife project? Four or 20 hour job?"</font color=blue>

Well, Pilgrim. Assuming that you're looking at using a standard residential size opener, it's not that big of a job. It would be best to have 2 people. Preferrably two that work well together! Husband and wife? /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif That's YOUR call! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

In my case, my wife could probably put it up faster than I could! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

It really isn't that hard. I've installed a Craftsman for my in-laws with the help of my idiot brother-in-law. His idea of a tool box has a puller (pliers), a pounder (hammer), and turner (1 screwdriver - always the wrong one!)/w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif. Sooo, I just told him to hold this, stand there, DON'T turn that, etc., etc./w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif Even with having to do that, it took about 3 hours to do the job. I've also installed a Genie brand a few years back. A snap.

I'm not going to go into details because if you can read instructions, you'll get it easily. It can be a nice afternoon project, and you'll feel real good after getting it done.

Have fun! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[Inspector507]

Pilgrim,
I've installed Craftsman, Genie and Stanley models. I currently have 2 Stanleys, they were at a good price /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif. All of those 3 can be installed in about 2-4 hours if you read and follow the directions supplied (novel idea that I may try out someday).
Seriously, they are not that hard to do.

Jerry

 

[DUMBDOG]

Depends on how long you want to drag out the installation. The most I can drag out an installation is 2 days, this includes picking up the garage door opener, and other parts to install, including the wiring and metal framing. Then 3 or 4 trips back to get want you forgot the first couple of times, each trip is an hour each way for parts.

At home with all of my tools and misc scraps for this and that, in can be done easily in 2 to 4 hours by one person.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Ain't all that hard, just a few hints, you need a level, a rope, and a helper along with a few common tools.
Center up the door, and mount the bracket the proper distance above the door. Insert track end into bracket.
Get out lawn chair, and admire work.
Have helper hold framing square at door end so you can hang the operator properly centered, and hold the end of the rope the operator is dangling from.
Raise operator to pre installed angles (you did this yesterday and wore yourself out), and bolt together.
Attach bracket to top section of door.
Sit in chair and admire work, send helper for beverages.
After beverages, install connecting link.
Double check all nuts are properly in place.
Complement helper on his/her great work, and let helper climb ladder to insert plug.
Apply thumb pressure to button, and see if door opens.
If it does, resume seated positon for more beverages.
If not, read the instructions.

 

[ronjhall]

Pilgrim
Here is a HGTV site that has some good information on installation of openers.
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/remodeling/article/0,,HGTV_3659_1471590,00.html>Click Here</A>
I did as Internet search for “Garage door opener instructions”. Found a bunch of sites with information in installation.
If your going to use your FEL to raise the door you will need to have a tooth bar attached to bucket. Another excuse to add attachments and get seat time. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[s1120]

Only one I helped put up was in the late 70's.[still working btw] I helped my dad,[if you call it helping] it only tuck a few hours, and thats with fixing the bent track.[Wards dock sale, We got EVERYthing bent twisted, and missing parts, MAN I used to love those/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif] Easy.

 

[Wingnut]

I've done 3 reinstallations and 5 new installations so far .... as they say on DIY, it's a 2 hammer job .... easy but you might do better with a helper (I don't .... my wife likes to supervise rather than help ...). The instructions that come with them are pretty good ... just follow the bouncing ball. So far, several Sears, several Stanleys and a Genie .... oops ... make that 6 new installs, forgot about my wife's place in Texas before she was my wife.

 

[Pilgrim]

I just made a BIG mistake. I e-mailed this thread to the wife.

It contains 7 "no problem" responses. It's looking like I'm not gonna have much of an excuse for putting off this job. You guys are giving me ZERO leverage here.

Hasn't anyone broken a leg, burned the house down or done that cartoon thing where you electrocute yourself and your skeleton flashes on and off through your skin /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif when installing one of these things!

I think I'm going to suggest another forum for good ol Muhammad to add.
It's the "You Can't Do That!" forum. A guy posts a project and the Tractor By Net guys respond with terrifying tails of life and death struggles, against all odds, while attempting and failing the posted project. THIS is the thread you SHOW "The Boss". Example...

Subject...
Ceiling Room Fan Help
My wife has asked me to install a ceiling fan in her sewing room. Has anyone attempted this project?

Response...
FOR GODS SAKES MAN! DONT DO IT! My (dim witted) brother-in-law tried installing a ceiling fan in his wife's sewing room, the Doctors are still trying to decide which end of him they are going to extract the fan blade from! The guy can't bend over. He has to sleep standing up! He goes in for surgery next week. I'll let you guys know how he makes out.
PS: I am a Certified Ceiling Fan Installer and I wont attempt a "Sewing Room" job.

Now that's leverage!
Connecticut Pilgrim.

 

[hazmat]

<font color=blue>I think I'm going to suggest another forum for good ol Muhammad to add.
It's the "You Can't Do That!" forum. A guy posts a project and the Tractor By Net guys respond with terrifying tails of life and death struggles, against all odds, while attempting and failing the posted project. THIS is the thread you SHOW "The Boss".</font color=blue>

We also need the "Need new Tool" forum.

Example:

Hey guys, Thinking about a table saw:

Responses:

What you're a homeowner and don't have one? It will make every project look like Norm Abrams built it. It belongs in your garage: The wife's car will last longer if you leave it outside in the snow. It will make you better in bed, It will cure world hunger etc. etc. etc.

 

[CSAW]

Not too big of job to put up. I have only owned two. The first was a Stanley which worked great for years. Couldn't find another Stanley localy. The second was a Genie which has given me all kinds of heart ache. This is just my experience. Maybe I just got a lemon but my next one will be a Stanley.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Pilgram,
I have only installed a few, but worked on and adjusted alot of them over the years. As far as brands go, I think it is personal choice over what is available in your area. Anybody with common sense, basic tools and A LOT of PATIENCE can do it. If it were me, I would bite the bullet, call your nearest Lift Master Man, put the whole project in his hands and while he is installing them, go spend some quality with either your wife or your tractor, which ever one is feeling the most neglected. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Wingnut]

Gosh ... sorry ... thought you were looking for positive or "this really happened to me" .... I guess you're lucky I didn't tell you I'm usually all thumbs /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
(you can cut and paste this to my previous)
Disregard my "easy" statements .... I'm a nut about DIY projects and salivate over things I can do by myself. My experiences will NOT parallel yours. Fun to me is getting away from my computer and single-handedly stick-building a garage just so I have something to do with my plethora of tools.
(hope that helps /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif )

pete

 

[fishman]

Pilgrim, that's really funny./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is make sure you get an opener that is sized for your door. I bought a Genie at HD and found out that it wouldn't work for a 8' door, only a 7' door, despite the "Oh sure" from the helpful orange-coated guy. I only found this out after installing the whole thing. Not only that, but the screw drive had too high of a profile, and would not fit between the door and the ceiling when the door was raised. Disassembling the whole works was rather disheartening.

I called a garage door guy that afternoon who did a fantastic job installing a chain-drive model, with an extra cost over what I would have spent of less than $100. That was including wiring those little laser beams through the attic, etc. In your case, it might even be less.

I won't ever install a garage door opener again, if I can help it.

There, did that help?