LiftMaster 8500W

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The  LiftMaster 8500W is the only jackshaft style opener on the market designed for residential use. It is a quiet, reliable opener that basically works well, as long as you have space for it in your garage(at least 12″ of side room in one of the upper corners).

There are a few considerations before selecting the LM 8500W.  For starters, it is only for torsion style spring systems on standard track.  Do not try to install this opener on a door with low headroom or zero clearance track.

You can only use this opener on a door that was properly installed and operates smoothly.  Traditional openers like the Chamberlain C450 are better on rickety old doors.  If you cannot easily open and close your garage door with one hand, this jackshaft opener is a bad choice and may frequently fail to close the door.  If the horizontal garage door track angles downhill as you move towards the back of the garage, don’t try to use this opener.

The LM 8500W also lacks an arm to press the top of your door against the top of its opening when shut.  If everything is perfect with your door and the opening is square, flush, and plumb, it will work just fine.  But, if the top door section is a little bit bent(be sure to check — look at it when it is in the open position) or the framing of the opening is out of whack, it might not seal as well as it did with your traditional style opener.

Finally, when you eventually have a broken spring, the opener may have to be uninstalled in order to perform a spring replacement.  It must then be reinstalled.  Your garage door professional will find this extremely annoying and probably charge you extra.