Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] Garage door openers

From: Pat Horne <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:50:47 -0600

Depends on what type of door you have. If the opener is 40 years old, I’ll guess that your door is a one piece door w/tension springs. Being that old, I’d look closely @ the door too. If it could stand replacing, now is the time to do it. A lot of door companies give a discount if you do both @ the same time. 

There are several types of openers, screw drive, belt drive & shaft drive. Belt & screw are similar with belt drive quieter. Either will operate most standard height doors. Shaft drive will only work on segmented doors & mount on the wall above the door. They can be used on taller doors. 

I’ve always used Chamberlain or Lift Master, they cost a bit extra but I’ve never had a problem with them. 

I need to go now but will answer your other questions hopefully tomorrow. 

Peace, Pat

Pat Horne 
We support Habitat for Humanity

On Nov 19, 2025, at 5:40 PM, Mark Bradakis <[email-masked]> wrote:

It has been nearly 40 years.  It may be time to replace our garage door opener.  So what are some good units to consider?  How easy are they for a home owner to install?  Can I do it myself, or call in a professional?

mjb.

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From: Pat Horne <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:17:55 -0600

OK, I’m back. I agree w/Jim, they aren’t difficult to install, I’ve done several by myself but it’s easier with 2 people. Biggest problem I’ve seen is that the door is either binding or out of balance. Make sure the door is correct before installing the opener. 

I know it’s not related to your questions, but I like to secure the manual release handle so that it’s harder to get to from the outside by someone breaking in. It’s pretty easy to pull the release when it’s hanging down in the center of the door with a hook.  My shaft drive has a separate automatic lock to secure the door when the door is closed & the manual release is beside the door. 
(Another deterrent I have is that the door is 10’ high!)
Pat Horne 
We support Habitat for Humanity

mjb.

[email-masked]

[email-masked]

---

From: Mark Bradakis <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:05:12 -0700

The current opener, a chain drive Martin unit, has been in use for 38 or 
39 years, I forgot how many.  Martin is a local Salt Lake company, I 
will probably see what they have available before I go to a big box store.

One hindrance to replacing the opener is the fact there are two 
Spitfires in the garage, neither of which can be readily moved. There is 
room to work around them, I think.  If not I could get one to roll 
outside without too much trouble.

Whatever type and brand of unit I buy, I will try to install it myself, 
probably with the help of a friend.

If it turns out the spring needs adjustment, I will call in a pro for 
sure.  I don't want to mess with that.

mjb.

[email-masked]

---

From: "Al Fuller" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2025 04:14:16 +0000

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I've had issues with both of my 2 garage openers in the last year -=20
here's what I did:

The LiftMaster opener on the single car door stopped responding to its=20
remote opener. The house was built in 1996, and the opener appears to be=20
original to the house. Replacing batteries didn't help, nor did getting=20
a new remote opener...

Conversation with LiftMaster support led us to conclude the logic board=20
had died, and they recommended buying a new opener. Since the opener=20
still opened and closed the door and responded to the wall switch, I=20
opted to create my own "remote opener", and installed a Shelly mini=20
relay. Now when I need to open that door, I just do it from my phone=20
[usually through Home Assistant, but it will also respond to its own=20
address on the local network...]. The current price for the relay is=20
$13.42 on Amazon:=20
https://www.amazon.com/Shelly-Bluetooth-Automation-Compatible-Required/dp/B=
0CQCHS2QS,=20
and installation was as simple as providing it with power from an old=20
cell phone charger and wiring it in parallel with the existing wall=20
switch wiring.

Then the opener on the two-car door failed [it was something mechanical,=20
but now I don't remember what...]. I bought a Genie brand at the local=20
big box store and installed it with the help of a friend. Since I knew I=20
could easily create a web-enabled opener using another Shelly relay, I=20
did not pay the extra cost for that feature and opted for the basic=20
opener. I think I recall that it did come with a battery backup.  The=20
new Genie opener seem to be just fine as far as quality is concerned.

So - I would pass on the web features and put a simple relay in there if=20
I were you. If you need the opener to work when thepower is out, then=20
the battery backup will help, although the door could be opened manually=20
if necessary.

I hope this helps.

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D
Al Fuller
714.335.0248 Mobile

------ Original Message ------
>From "Mark Bradakis" <[email-masked]>
To [email-masked]
Date 11/19/2025 3:12:37 PM
Subject [Shop-talk] Garage door openers

>It has been nearly 40 years.  It may be time to replace our garage door op=
ener.  So what are some good units to consider?  How easy are they for a ho=
me owner to install?  Can I do it myself, or call in a professional?
>Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talkhttp://autox.team.net/arch=
ive
>
>Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/alfull=
[email-masked]
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<body><div>I've had issues with both of my 2 garage openers in the last yea=
r - here's what I did:</div><div><br /></div><div>The LiftMaster opener on=
 the single car door stopped responding to its remote opener. The house was=
 built in 1996, and the opener appears to be original to the house. Replacin=
g batteries didn't help, nor did getting a new remote opener...=C2=A0</div>=
<div><br /></div><div>Conversation with LiftMaster support led us to conclu=
de the logic board had died, and they recommended buying a new opener. Sinc=
e the opener still opened and closed the door and responded to the wall swi=
tch, I opted to create my own "remote opener", and installed a Shelly mini=
 relay. Now when I need to open that door, I just do it from my phone [usual=
ly through Home Assistant, but it will also respond to its own address on t=
he local network...]. The current price for the relay is $13.42 on Amazon:=
=C2=A0<a href=3D"https://www.amazon.com/Shelly-Bluetooth-Automation-Compati=
ble-Required/dp/B0CQCHS2QS" style=3D"font-size: 12pt;">https://www.amazon.c=
om/Shelly-Bluetooth-Automation-Compatible-Required/dp/B0CQCHS2QS</a>, and i=
nstallation was as simple as providing it with power from an old cell phone =
charger and wiring it in parallel with the existing wall switch wiring.</d=
iv><div><br /></div><div>Then the opener on the two-car door failed [it was =
something mechanical, but now I don't remember what...]. I bought a Genie=
 brand at the local big box store and installed it with the help of a friend=
. Since I knew I could easily create a web-enabled opener using another She=
lly relay, I did not pay the extra cost for that feature and opted for the=
 basic opener. I think I recall that it did come with a battery backup.=C2=
=A0 The new Genie opener seem to be just fine as far as quality is concerne=
d.</div><div><br /></div><div>So - I would pass on the web features and put =
a simple relay in there if I were you. If you need the opener to work when =
thepower is out, then the battery backup will help, although the door coul=
d be opened manually if necessary.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope this h=
elps.</div><div id=3D"signature_old" style=3D"clear:both"><div dir=3D"ltr">=
<div><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div dir=3D"ltr">=C2=A0<br />=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<br />Al Ful=
ler<br />714.335.0248 Mobile<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div><div>=
<br /></div>
<div x-em-replyforwardheader=3D""><br /></div>
<div>
<div>------ Original Message ------</div>
<div>From "Mark Bradakis" &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]">mark@bra=
dakis.com</a>&gt;</div>
<div>To <a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]">[email-masked]=
t</a></div>
<div>Date 11/19/2025 3:12:37 PM</div>
<div>Subject [Shop-talk] Garage door openers</div></div><div x-em-quote=3D"=
"><br /></div>
<div id=3D"x48244bdf6c47446" class=3D"plain"><blockquote cite=3D"aca45175-f=
[email-masked]" type=3D"cite" class=3D"cite2">

<div class=3D"plain_line">It has been nearly 40 years.  It may be time to r=
eplace our garage door opener.  So what are some good units to consider?  H=
ow easy are they for a home owner to install?  Can I do it myself, or call=
 in a professional?</div>
<div class=3D"plain_line">=C2=A0</div>
<div class=3D"plain_line">mjb.</div>
<div class=3D"plain_line">=C2=A0</div>
<div class=3D"plain_line">_______________________________________________</=
div>
<div class=3D"plain_line">=C2=A0</div>
<div class=3D"plain_line"><a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]">Shop-=
[email-masked]</a></div>
<div class=3D"plain_line">Donate: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/donate.htm=
l">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a></div>
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</blockquote></div>

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[email-masked]

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---

From: Al Fuller <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2025 21:40:19 -0800

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Mark, it sounds like you need a set of car dollies to move inop cars! I'm
probably ready to part with my set of Go jacks, but the shipping is usually
the issue. In your case I'm not so far away, in Las Vegas.

Anyway, having room to assemble the opener is useful and access to the
front wall (with the door closed) as well as the area of the head unit is
required. I guess it's possible to work around the cars, but I'd avoid that
if possible.

________________
Sent from my phone
Best Regards,
Al Fuller

On Thu, Nov 20, 2025, 5:10=E2=80=AFPM Mark Bradakis <[email-masked]> wro=
te:

> will probably see what they have available before I go to a big box store=
.
> Unsubscribe/Manage:
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/[email-masked]
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<div dir=3D"auto"><div>Mark, it sounds like you need a set of car dollies t=
o move inop cars! I&#39;m probably ready to part with my set of Go jacks, b=
ut the shipping is usually the issue. In your case I&#39;m not so far away,=
 in Las Vegas.</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">Anyway, h=
aving room to assemble the opener is useful and access to the front wall (w=
ith the door closed) as well as the area of the head unit is required. I gu=
ess it&#39;s possible to work around the cars, but I&#39;d avoid that if po=
ssible.</div><div><br></div><div data-smartmail=3D"gmail_signature">_______=
_________<br>Sent from my phone <br>Best Regards,<br>Al Fuller</div></div><=
br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=
=3D"gmail_attr">On Thu, Nov 20, 2025, 5:10=E2=80=AFPM Mark Bradakis &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div=
><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1=
px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">The current opener, a chain drive Martin un=
it, has been in use for 38 or <br>
39 years, I forgot how many.=C2=A0 Martin is a local Salt Lake company, I <=
br>
will probably see what they have available before I go to a big box store.<=
br>
<br>
One hindrance to replacing the opener is the fact there are two <br>
Spitfires in the garage, neither of which can be readily moved. There is <b=
r>
room to work around them, I think.=C2=A0 If not I could get one to roll <br=
outside without too much trouble.<br>
<br>
Whatever type and brand of unit I buy, I will try to install it myself, <br=
probably with the help of a friend.<br>
<br>
If it turns out the spring needs adjustment, I will call in a pro for <br>
sure.=C2=A0 I don&#39;t want to mess with that.<br>
<br>
mjb.<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"norefe=
rrer">[email-masked]</a><br>
errer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk" rel=3D"norefer=
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alk/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">=
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r>
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</blockquote></div>

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