Peter Duniho wrote:

* You will want to ensure that the mechanism inside the opener is up to
the task. The garage door opener I've had open has a nylon worm drive to
turn the main sprocket for the chain. It wears out even under normal garage
use, with a counter-spring to help reduce the forces involved. Even if the
hangar door is counter-weighted somehow, there may be more friction with the
larger door. It may be a lot to ask of little plastic pieces.

I had assumed from the description that the opening mechanism on the hangar door is
similar to others with which I've dealt. In those, the chain is operated by hand and
requires only negligible force. It drives a gear that operates the actual opening
mechanism. Usually the gearing is such that the chain must be pulled a considerable
distance to raise the door, which is what results in it being so easy to pull around.
The doors with which I am familiar would require less from the GDO than normal garage
doors would require.

As for wearing out, there was a Craftsman unit in the house I used to own when I
bought it in 1988. It was still working well when I sold the house in 2001. The two
Genie units in my existing home were in it when we bought in 2000 and are doing just
fine so far. No telling how old they are. I installed one for a friend back in 1985
and it's still in service. The ones with which I've dealt are pretty bulletproof. You
might want to change brands the next time yours goes.

George Patterson
If you want to know God's opinion of money, just look at the people
he gives it to.