Garages and Carports - Garage Door Opener Installation Question - Regarding Bracket

All,


I bought a Craftsman 1/2 hp Garage Door Opener, Belt Drive from Sears. I was able to install the whole thing, except the part of installing the opener bracket to the garage door bracket. I have a Wayne Dalton door. Everytime, I screw in the garage door bracket, the screw just keeps turning and won't stay snug in it. This is because the garage door bracket is a thin piece of hollow metal located at the center of the door. So, when ever I try to screw the opener bracket into the garage door bracket, it doesn't hold. I think the pictures linked below can better explain what I am trying to say.

So a few questions:

1) Is there any way I can cover up the existing holes that I made? Like some sort of way to fill the holes.

2) If I make any more holes, am I going to have problems where the garage door bracket will rip out of the door due to weakness that was caused by having so many holes.

3) Does anybody have an idea of how I should attach the opener bracket to the garage door bracket?


Btw, I am using self tapping screws that I got from overhead garage. Its the ones they use for installation also.

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/2006/img1196w.jpg
http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/208/img1197g.jpg
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/8148/img1198.jpg
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/8359/img1199t.jpg
http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/1041/img1200.jpg


Thanks,
Ashish

I detest the way WD wants you to attach the opener. A couple of crimps, a few sheet metal screws and some adhesive under that stiffener strut is all that attaches it to the door.

I've always seen a sticker on WD doors that says "attach opener here", then I install a reinforcement bracket or angle iron across several struts and mount the opener arm to that..not directly to the door strut. They carry reinforcement brackets at most Home Centers...or you could probably get one from the place you mentioned. It will extend all the way down to the hinge, is held by 4 large screws and distribute the force better.

Thanks for the response. But, how would I attach the reinforcement bracket? I mean would the reinforcement bracket have to be attached to the garage door bracket that is already there? Or does it need to be somehow attached to the door itself?

Also, is this the bracket you are taking about:

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-16416632405890_2069_9886241

Sorry, if I am asking a lot of questions, but I have been struggling with this for a while.


Thanks,
Ashish

Yep..that or they have one thats a little narrower. Either would be fine. It will mount on top of the strut and the hinge using the exisiting 2 hinge screws, and will use the existing 2 holes at the top of the strut. If those holes have stripped out, you might need to get the next size up screws or CAREFULLY drill 2 new holes slightly off set up or down. You DO NOT want to punch through the thin outer skin of the door.

I like the brackets since they have the lower mounting points, they split the lifting force and LIFT at the bottom of the panel instead of just PULLING on the top of it. The hinge also helps distribute some force to thesecond panel down. Even better if a reinforcing piece of angle iron is attached across 3 struts horizontally.

No Pro installer, but I've put in plenty of doors and openers and had to inspect and repair more than a few, many because the opener attachment point wasn't reinforced some how. Does your door open and close easily? The springs should be carrying the weight of the door, or you are just asking for problems.

Yep..that or they have one thats a little narrower. Either would be fine. It will mount on top of the strut and the hinge using the exisiting 2 hinge screws, and will use the existing 2 holes at the top of the strut. If those holes have stripped out, you might need to get the next size up screws or CAREFULLY drill 2 new holes slightly off set up or down. You DO NOT want to punch through the thin outer skin of the door.


Thanks for the quick response. I don't believe that I have a strut. Or are you talking about the white horizontal piece that the existing garage door bracket is mounted to with one screw? I have marked that in black in the below image:

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/9325/garage1.jpg

Also, I thought this is what a strut is(I don't have this):

http://www.hisdoors.com/images/uploads/Strut.jpg

Also, if I remove the hinges screw and then would I have an issue putting them back in?


No Pro installer, but I've put in plenty of doors and openers and had to inspect and repair more than a few, many because the opener attachment point wasn't reinforced some how. Does your door open and close easily? The springs should be carrying the weight of the door, or you are just asking for problems.


The door moves up and down freely. So, hopefully that should be fine.


Again, thanks for your help.


Regards,
Ashish

I was using the term that WD uses for their doors...they call the vertical pieces "box style struts". I agree w/you..the second picture is normally called a strut...but maybe reinforcing strut is more appropriate.

With the door closed, should be no issue replacing the screws. IIRC the bracket includes 4 screws..but not positive.

No problem with the advice..like I said..no Pro..but pretty good with certain things..these being one.

I was using the term that WD uses for their doors...they call the vertical pieces "box style struts". I agree w/you..the second picture is normally called a strut...but maybe reinforcing strut is more appropriate.


The bottom of the reinforced bracket will be mounted to the hinge. But are you saying that the top of the reinforced bracket needs to be screwed into the existing thin garage door bracket? If so, the problem is that the screw doesn't hold into it. That is the original issue.


Regards,
Ashish

I understand..thats why you will need either bigger screws..or re-drill some holes.

Ok. Thanks for the info. I will try it this weekend.

Btw, I forgot to mention that I have a Wayne Dalton 9500 door.


Regards,
Ashish