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Garage door opener replacement questions (self.homeimprovement)

submitted 1 year ago by dirthawker0 to c/homeimprovement

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I think some electronics in the motor have gone kaput. The wall mounted button works, but I have 2 remotes and neither works. (I did change the battery on one as well as try to re-pair it with the motor, to no avail.)

My options are to replace the circuit board ($125) or buy a new motor unit ($199). The original motor is a Liftmaster and the lift is a belt; it's probably about 20 years old. The cost of a new motor unit is not hugely more than the circuit board and I would get additional features like a battery backup.

If I go for a new unit will it work with the existing belt? I'm looking at a basic 1/2hp Chamberlain. Thanks!

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I recently replaced my opener in a similar situation. Mine's chain drive and I did reuse the existing chain. I'd be less confident reusing a belt; rubber degrades faster than metal. But, based on my experience, replacing just the belt or chain isn't much harder than replacing the motor unit. I had to loosen my chain considerably in order to get it around the new motors sprocket. At that point, it would have been just a few more turns of the tension screw to fully remove it.

[–] dirthawker0 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I guess my question was whether the stats, e.g. number of teeth per inch, width, thickness on garage door belts are standardized/universal. It's good information that you were able to reuse the chain and replacing it isn't that hard to do, thanks!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Liftmaster and Chamberlain are the same company, so it's highly likely (though not guaranteed) that the parts are compatible.

[–] dirthawker0 1 points 1 year ago

I was thinking there would be a chance of that. In researching the replacement circuit board they seem big into backwards compatibility.