I have a new(but have had 3 years) garage door opener that I wanted to install on my detached garage door.
I found I have absolutely no head room at all because the rafters have sagged. I would like to convert my opener to operate by hooking it to the torsion pipe. What kind of a ratio would I need to drive this pipe? The present opener is 1/2 hp. I know the side drive openers can be bought but I sure would like to use the one I have.
Does anyone know how I can do this, or if it is even feasible?
Thanks,
Mike

 

Torsion springs with low or no headroom is usually not easy. And any type drive unit needs special tracks for low headroom. Door manufacturer??? Look them up on the web.

 

The door has been installed since the building was built and it works ok when raised or lowered by hand. There is no room above the door for the opener rail to be installed. I am trying to utilize the opener motor by using it for some type of side drive that I could fab up, or not. Is this idea nuts? Mike

 

How much room above the door?? Low headroom kits only require about 3" above the door.

 

Lets see if I can put into words what looking at it shows. From where the opener motor would mount on the ceiling there are some sagging rafters which are in the way of the chain rail mounting position. They sag so much there is no longer a straight path to above the door from where the opener would mount. Lowering the motor mount position enough to clear the rafters causes the rail to interfere with the door when it is raising. As I understand, the low headroom kits allow the door to make the turn quicker, thus not requiring as much room above the door. The sagging rafters are about midway and that is where the clearance issue is. The right way would be to fix the rafters, but that isn't economic enough for my cash. Thus, the goofy idea of using my opener as a side drive unit somehow. I hope this explains it ok.
Mike

 

DD
Well, in regards to the low headroom kits, IIRC they actually lower the upper track, so the door is further away from the ceiling, though I think the old track remains in place. Quick turn brackets make the top door panel turn quicker, so if the headroom issue is right above the door thats when those are used.

As to your original, "can I use this opener" question. No way that I could think of. The Torsion Tube isn't really designed to be twisted from just one end, I don't think. And without some cobbled up gearbox, I doubt it would have the necessary "umph" to lift it. Maybe selling the NIB opener would be the best avenue.

 

Well, I think I will give up on this idea. I looked up some of the side mount stuff and they exceeded $400. I think I will reward myself with $1 each time I have to open and close this door. I will only have to do it for 2 years or so then I can buy the opener. Thanks for everyone"s help.
Mike