I guess this is the right forum for this question:

I just bought a house and the garage has a 10 year old Lift Master installed (chain). The previous owners do not know where the remotes are. There's also a code panel install outside but I don't have the manual so I don't know how to reprogram it. It's older panel w/o the enter button.

My goal is to use the Home Link in the car.

Here's the question; can I replace the motor and the code panel without having to replace all the other hardware attached to the door? I basically want to drop the old motor unit, replace it with a new one and rewire the controls.

 

Ah, didn't see the the H&G section. Cool.

 

You'd be better off just buying a new unit. You can get a decent one for around the $200 mark. I personally can't see any real savings by pulling a Frankenstien on the existing unit.

Now may be a good time to upgrade to something like this: http://www.overheaddoor.com/Product.aspx?pid=49 . My neighbor has it and you can't even hear the door open. It's like magic. I have one of the $200 units myself and it works great but definitely sounds like a garage door opener. His is super quiet.

 

http://superiordoorparts.com/index.a...TS&Category=25

The site has remotes for Liftmaster from 84- now.

 

How much does the phantom opener go for?

 

Ah, thank you. I'll check this out.

 

I think they're more than double what you'll find for prices at Lowe's and HD. I don't have one, so I'm not positive. I think they are somewhere in the 4-500 range if I remember what my neighbor said he paid.

After seeing it in action, I believe it's worth every penny. Like I said above, you almost can't even hear it operate.. The door just goes up and down with almost no noise at all. My $200 units are much more noisy(screw drive).

 

Check the Wayne-Dalton garage door openers http://www.wayne-dalton.com/idrive_Torsion.asp eliminates the belts, chains, and clutter (like traditional door openers).

 

Go with a new one. After 10 years there's no telling what it's been through (i.e. some little kid opening/shutting it a hundred times one day when his parents aren't home )

 

Or for like 50 bucks you can buy a module from genie at home depot. Thats what we did.

Mike

 

Yep, that price range is correct. We got them installed with the new house - fantastic opener..sure beats listening to my previous home's Craftsman vibrate the house - this is a much smother operation and much quieter in the garage and in the house.

 

Chamberlain Whisper Drive. It's belt driven and very quiet.

 

Since I just bought the house, money needs to be spent wisely. I figured out how to reprogram the code panel outside and I ordered the the remote from the place kwalnut recommended, $25 shipped. The noise factor doesn't bother me now but if we build above the garage I'll def. upgrade.

 

just as a tip, open up the side panels and looks at the gears inside. my house came with a 10 yr old motor and 3 months back it stoped working. THe gears wear all wore down and they were plastic. I bought a craftsman chain drive motor and ts really quiet. Took 2 hours to install and works beautifully.

 

Good tip, I'll check it tonight.

When you installed the new one, did you replace all the old hardware with the new stuff or just replaced the motor?

 

I replaced the motor, that black rail along which the door moves and the touch panel to open and close it. I just used the old wiring and just hooked it up to the new motor. It is fairly simple and the instructions are really clear. All you need is some time and a sencond person to help out and it will be easy. Also all new motors come with those sensor thingys so incase something block the path, the door won't close. I just ductaped them to gether and connected them so they would let the door work as the motor will not move unless they are hooked up.

 

Exactly why I would've went with a new one