Chamberlain WD822KD Whisper Drive 1/2-HP Belt Drive Garage Door Opener
by Chamberlain
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List Price: Our Price: $198.00 You Save: $51.99 (21%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $178.20 (click here) Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Chamberlain WD822KD Whisper Drive 1/2-HP Belt Drive Garage Door Opener
Customer Review: Whisper quiet and a straightforward install
Summary: 5 Stars
My house came equipped with a 1992 chain-drive Liftmaster garage door. It was very noisy and finally stopped working a couple of weeks ago. So I shopped at my local home repair stores and shopped online and found this model to be the most economical choice for my family's needs (Amazon.com had by far the best price).
I was intimidated by the install, so the box sat in my living room for a couple of weeks. After reading the comprehensive instructions, I realized that I could leave the old door sensors, wiring and mounting hardware from my former unit. My 8-year old son helped me string the belt (a 2 person operation for sure) and my inattention to detail at this step was the only holdup on installation. I can say to make sure the opener trolly is fully in the "closed" position, that is to say at the end of the opening rail furthest from the unit. We started with the trolly in the middle and the result was that the door would only close halfway. After spending an hour figuring this out, re-threading the belt with the trolly in the proper position fixed it immediately. With that exception, instillation should have been just over an hour - but definitely longer if not for using my previously-installed hardware and mounting bracket.
Since install, it has performed marvelously. Opens and shuts perfectly each time. The rollers on my garage door are louder than the "whisper drive" belt system. My wife is surprised when I walk in the house from the garage because she doesn't hear the garage door opening.
Customer Review: Current Review and information
Summary: 5 Stars
As with the man who said this isn't an easy install he's right! Of course with a little mechanical skill you can do this but even with a currently installed opener which mine was a Genie it still took 3 hours! The pieces do go together quickly however I'm careful and double check and re-read the directions which prevents problems later. Be sure you have enough of the metal bar (the stuff with the holes drilled in it) to hang the unit properly and be sure you double check the track heighth over the garage door when it's open, mess up and you have to reposition all of rig. There isn't any extra parts needed to put this opener in except if you need a couple of bolts to help hang the opener so double check how you set up this part in the instructions to see if you need a couple of bolts.
Once again with a little caution and following directions this is one nice unit!! Once installed it is nice and quiet and did I mention no lubing a thing which unlike screw drive and chain drive openers which I've had some drip on my car and truck over the years as you lube them up per maintenance instructions. So no mess and the quietest unit I've ever owned. I can't hear my wife coming home, maybe that's bad...I don't know...
Can't say enough positive about this unit, it works extremely well and may cost a few more bucks than screw drive or chain but well worth it. And I quote from an article I've read, "if you own a Cadillac get the Cadillac opener, a belt drive," they aren't kidding!
Customer Review: Works like a charm!
Summary: 5 Stars
All the positive reviews of this item are accurate, so I won't reiterate them here.
While the unit is easy and fun to put together, here are a couple of tips to make it go even more smoothly. The last direction for assembly (not installation...more on that later) is REALLY DUMB. To have the belt spring into its ready-to-use tension, you are supposed to hold a grooved nut in place using a flat-headed screw driver, all the while twisting another nut with a pair of pliers or wrench until the latter nut snaps over the former nut. HA HA HA HA HA! Sure. When you get to this and try it, you'll see what I mean. We finally just tried any means we could think of to get that nut over, so you'll need to do the same.
Installation was a breeze, but we couldn't figure out why the sensors on either side of the door wouldn't calibrate. After checking the wiring three times, we finally decided to detach one sensor and bring it RIGHT up to the other one. Great idea, because they connected immediately like two love-birds. I reattached the sensor where it belonged and they've been making "eye-contact" ever since.
The remote entry is REALLY cool. It's easy to program and just as easy to input a temporary code if you have hired help needing entry or something.
All in all, I wouldn't describe the noise produced by the unit as "whisper-quiet," but it's certainly more quiet than the chain-drive unit I pulled out of there!
Customer Review: Easy to install and exceptionally silent
Summary: 5 Stars
I got one a couple of weeks ago and installed it myself, replacing an old noisy Craftsman screw drive for my sectional 2-car door. All you need is a few basic tools and a screw driver. Lots of bolting and screwing. Some reviewers have complained about having to get brackets and some basic hardware that are not included. If you are getting it new for a new door that has never had an opener on it you should plan for the trip to the hardware store, the instructions tell you everything you need. If you are replacing an older opener, you probably have everything you need, including a reinforced garage door. I could use the brackets etc. from the old opener, even if I had to relocate them a little bit. Installation was easy and straight-forward with excellent instructions. Took 2-3 hours, including the removal of the old one. If I did again it could probably be done in an hour and a half. The opener is really quiet and smooth. All you hear is a whir from the reinforced rubber belt and low hum from the motor. It seems to slow down slightly just before it closes completely, very cool . Most of the noise now comes from the garage door sliding up and down. Very happy. And the lights are positioned one on each side so it lights up the garage much better than the old one where the two lights were side by side in the front. The coded remote key pad is great bonus. I hadn't even seen that I was getting that when I ordered the unit.Customer Review: I don't get excited about garage door openers, but in this case...
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an amazing unit/package. It is SO quiet...you literally hear nothing but the door creaking and a very slight motor noise, very slight. It's also quite nice looking, very sleek styling.
Comes w/two compact three-button remotes already tuned to the door, and a keyless entry pad for access to the garage w/out a remote. My wife also picked up another gizmo you can plug a light into inside the house to control w/the garage remote as well. The motor unit takes two light bulbs, up to 100 watts! This sucker really lights it up!
Did I say it is quiet! I mean really quiet!
As noted, installation is a breeze...if you already have a garage door opener you're replacing. If you don't, you may miss having a couple of things. The obstruction sensors are supposed to snap onto your door rail...if they don't fit, as on mine, the bracket extenders you'd likely want to attach them to the wall aren't in the box (luckily I alread had some brackets from my other sensors). Same w/the motor mounting...I was able to use my existing mounts easily, but if I was installing in a new garage I would have needed to get more hardware...
Overall I am more than pleased...my expectations were well exceeded. Our previous screw-drive opener never seemed too loud to me, but now I wish it had broken sooner. I am VERY happy w/the Chamberlain! Buy it, you won't regret it.