Having installed three of those I decided to write my review....
Manufactured by: Wayne Dalton
Coolness factor: ***** 5/5
Quality factor : ** 2/5
Manual : *** 3/5
Ease of Install : * 1/5
W/D Support : 0/5
First, I am not a garage door expert. On my new house we have 10 - 11
feet ceilings, did not like an idea of garage door opener suspended that high in the air.
Called two large local area companies: One rep refused to install those.
"It takes at least 2 ½ hours, and some would not work ever".
Second rep: "I could try, but I never seen one that works. Last time we
attempted to install iDrive it would take counterbalance cables off drums ".
Well I was determined to prove them wrong.
Purchase: Two local stores were carrying those: Menards and Lowes.
Menards price: $239 Lowes: $259. Pretty pricy, but one day we managed to
buy two of those for $143 from lowes.
To my surprise two boxes had two distinctly different models. I went to Menards
and bought another iDrive - surprise again, yet another model. Bought fourth one
from Lowes - another model !!!??? All boxes looks the same!
Installation: save yourself some time and attach wires, and set jumpers light
configuration first. Now installation of the first iDrive took about 30 minutes,
getting one to work took about 16 hours.
Issues:
iDrive (1) model included drum wraps, they look cool but ... They would not stay
in place no matter what I tried. After few cycles drum wraps would jam, and
prevent door from going up or down. Instead I installed springs attaching to
counterbalance cables. (Model included small springs)
iDrive(2) model large counterbalance springs. Overhead light would stay on
24x7.
The light would turn on by iDrive, but I could never ever go off.
iDrive(3) Menards model. It looks like motor position slightly 1" off from lowes model.
I bravely replaced iDrive(2) with iDrive(3) now I was able to turn light on and off,
Pressed "Install routine" button, door moved up and next thing I saw was counterbalance
Cable jumping off the drums on both side of the door.. ( Ohh, sh** . Is that what
garage doors installed (2) was trying to warn me about???). In disconnected state
when door is ¾ up iDrive prevented torsion tube rotation.
iDrive(4) Menards model. After 5 minutes install same issue as iDrive(3). I was done
with Menards models, went back to get another iDrive from Lowes.
(I attempted to contact W/D phone support. 888-827-3667 Every single option leads
to some voice mail box, we will contact you within 24 - 48 hours, yeah right )
iDrive(5) first it looked like same model as iDrive(2), oh wait it is slightly different again!
Everything is cool, run install routine. Another new feature: motor would pivot down before
the door is closed and jam between the door and header board. I was afraid it
broke /dented the door.
iDrive(6) lowes same model as (5) . and same issue. After another hour of play
I learned that if the motor is manually raised to sit on detent pin followed by install
routine this feature goes away.
Next adjust custom upper limit. After day of working door started to reverse and
unit beep three times. After hours of play time I discovered if opener returned into
default upper limit, door works fine, custom upper limit - every 3rd or 4th time we
have a problem.
In the end after buying 6 iDrives I found 2 that worked. Also I believe that iDrive(5)
was not a defective, but manual that did not mention this type of problems, and
Wayne Dalton customer support impossible to reach, and they web site is useless.
Conclusions:
I like I drives, they fast, pretty quiet, not take any overhead space. But software is glitchy,
poorly written / badly organized manual, inadequate phone support. IMHO those openers
do not deserve $100 premiums over chain drives lowes trying to charge for them.
My doors were installed 2 month prior and I had to remove and lube all components.
Plastic clips, attached to the end of counterbalance cable and springs, are major pain.
Removing those and attaching spring end directly to counterbalance cable solves
most problems.
Mike