BobK207 wrote:

On Jan 14, 5:39*pm, Steve Daniels wrote:
I came home to a door about 75% shut. *When I try to open or
close the door, my very old opener shudders and grinds. *I'll
take it down and look at it, but I'm pretty sure I'm in the
market for a new unit.

What's good out there?


Release the door from the opener arm & see it the door works easily by
hand.

But if yours is making nasty noises it might be more than a door
balancing issue.

I have good luck with Genie, Liftmaster & Sears.

The Genie & the LIftmasters were screw drive; Sears were chain drives.

I like the screw drives but I'm really not sure the realtive benefits
of each type.

cheers
Bob
I assembled and installed a HeathKit screw drive opener for my 16' wooden
door in 1972. In 1997, the phase-shift capacitor failed. I was gonna
call Heath and complain ... they disappeared. I put in a new cap. The
opener continues to work just fine. On a couple of occasions, I found
that one of the torque springs had broken some time earlier and my opener
never even noticed! Screw drive openers rock.