If only...[rant]

Sac Arrow

Sac Arrow

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
21,565
Location
Charlotte, NC
Display Name
Snorting his way across the USA
Two days ago.

I got new Iphone (16 pro.) It has a USB C connector. No headphone jack. Since it had no headphone jack, I bought a pair of Bluetooth earbuds. They are basically worthless for any activity except sitting, as they are not very secure in the ear. This can be remedied by aftermarket flanged earpieces, but then they won't fit in the charging case with them attached. IF ONLY I had known at the time that I could buy a set of USB C earphones - a cheaper, more reliable solution.

Yesterday.

The garage door didn't close completely. It didn't open all the way either. Repeated cycling did not fix the issue. In fact, it resulted in the door being stuck in the almost closed position. I went on my bike ride, came back, and investigated. The garage door spring broke. Four hours and three thousand dollars later, I had a new spring and a new opener. IF ONLY I would have left it alone, and called the garage door opener people from the getgo, I might still have had a functional opener. And of course none of the old remotes work despite the new unit being a Liftmaster like the old unit. I have a set of new, hopefully compatible fobs for the bike on order.
 
Sac Arrow said:
Two days ago.

I got new Iphone (16 pro.) It has a USB C connector. No headphone jack. Since it had no headphone jack, I bought a pair of Bluetooth earbuds. They are basically worthless for any activity except sitting, as they are not very secure in the ear. This can be remedied by aftermarket flanged earpieces, but then they won't fit in the charging case with them attached. IF ONLY I had known at the time that I could buy a set of USB C earphones - a cheaper, more reliable solution.

Yesterday.

The garage door didn't close completely. It didn't open all the way either. Repeated cycling did not fix the issue. In fact, it resulted in the door being stuck in the almost closed position. I went on my bike ride, came back, and investigated. The garage door spring broke. Four hours and three thousand dollars later, I had a new spring and a new opener. IF ONLY I would have left it alone, and called the garage door opener people from the getgo, I might still have had a functional opener. And of course none of the old remotes work despite the new unit being a Liftmaster like the old unit. I have a set of new, hopefully compatible fobs for the bike on order.
Click to expand...
 
I know the feeling.

Last weekend my tractor broke (see the Fedex post below). In an attempt to get something done, I broke my personal rule and borrowed a piece of equipment from a friend. An hour later it broke (no ones fault, seal blew). Decided to call it a day before anything else I touch breaks...been too afraid to pee for days! :biggrin:
 
Sac Arrow said:
Two days ago.

I got new Iphone (16 pro.) It has a USB C connector. No headphone jack. Since it had no headphone jack, I bought a pair of Bluetooth earbuds. They are basically worthless for any activity except sitting, as they are not very secure in the ear. This can be remedied by aftermarket flanged earpieces, but then they won't fit in the charging case with them attached. IF ONLY I had known at the time that I could buy a set of USB C earphones - a cheaper, more reliable solution.

Yesterday.

The garage door didn't close completely. It didn't open all the way either. Repeated cycling did not fix the issue. In fact, it resulted in the door being stuck in the almost closed position. I went on my bike ride, came back, and investigated. The garage door spring broke. Four hours and three thousand dollars later, I had a new spring and a new opener. IF ONLY I would have left it alone, and called the garage door opener people from the getgo, I might still have had a functional opener. And of course none of the old remotes work despite the new unit being a Liftmaster like the old unit. I have a set of new, hopefully compatible fobs for the bike on order.
Click to expand...
You got ripped off if they charged you $3000. Our business neighbors do that for a living. You should have been out for under a thousand. I was when mine went. I think it was about $300 for the spring replace and repair. I got the openers installed for under $500 each, (3 of em)
 
EdFred said:
You got ripped off if they charged you $3000. Our business neighbors do that for a living. You should have been out for under a thousand. I was when mine went. I think it was about $300 for the spring replace and repair. I got the openers installed for under $500 each, (3 of em)
Click to expand...
The low end of the quote was about a thousand. I opted for the prima donna system.
 
Sac Arrow said:
IF ONLY I had known at the time that I could buy a set of USB C earphones - a cheaper, more reliable solution.
Click to expand...
Or better fitting Bluetooth headphones? Earbud fit is independent of wired or Bluetooth…
 
Sac Arrow said:
The low end of the quote was about a thousand. I opted for the prima donna system.
Click to expand...


I had to pay those preema donner prices a couple years ago for a water heater replacement. $3500 for an $800 water heater. But it was Saturday afternoon on Thanksgiving weekend with a house full of people, so it was expected.
 
AKiss20 said:
Or better fitting Bluetooth headphones? Earbud fit is independent of wired or Bluetooth…
Click to expand...
Right - I ordered some replacement ear inserts, the flanged kind. That solved the fitment problem. But, I have to remove them every time I put the earbuds in the charging case. I will probably just drill out the case so the new ear inserts can stick out.
 
aterry1067 said:
I had to pay those preema donner prices a couple years ago for a water heater replacement. $3500 for an $800 water heater. But it was Saturday afternoon on Thanksgiving weekend with a house full of people, so it was expected.
Click to expand...
You paid someone for that? Water heater removal and installation is pretty easy.
 
EdFred said:
You paid someone for that? Water heater removal and installation is pretty easy.
Click to expand...
I went through that exercise last November. I had always installed water heaters myself, and would have, when the last one crapped out, except that the Other Person wanted a tankless. I'm not sure what it cost, not $3,500 for sure but it was more than the cost of a Home Depot run plus some copper pipe blanks.

I guess at some point you just get tired of dealing with it. I do like the tankless, and I plan on doing my own descaling when its due.
 
Sac Arrow said:
I went through that exercise last November. I had always installed water heaters myself, and would have, when the last one crapped out, except that the Other Person wanted a tankless. I'm not sure what it cost, not $3,500 for sure but it was more than the cost of a Home Depot run plus some copper pipe blanks.

I guess at some point you just get tired of dealing with it. I do like the tankless, and I plan on doing my own descaling when its due.
Click to expand...
I kicked around tankless, but the ones I look at require 240V and I'm out of breaker space. Instead I'm running 2 40gal NG in parallel. Which has been good because twice I've had one spring a leak and was able to still have hot water until I got around to replacing the leaky one. I have two because I have a soaking tub that would only end up at around 75 degrees on a single 40 gallon.
 
EdFred said:
You paid someone for that? Water heater removal and installation is pretty easy.
Click to expand...


Maybe you missed the “Saturday afternoon on Thanksgiving weekend with a house full of people” part. I wasn’t paying for the water heater or the install…
 
aterry1067 said:
Maybe you missed the “Saturday afternoon on Thanksgiving weekend with a house full of people” part. I wasn’t paying for the water heater or the install…
Click to expand...
Nope. Saturday afternoon with people over means you have plenty of people willing to help. Took that completely into account when replying. Maybe my guests are more helpful. It's a Midwest thing.
 
EdFred said:
Nope. Saturday afternoon with people over means you have plenty of people willing to help. Took that completely into account when replying. Maybe my guests are more helpful. It's a Midwest thing.
Click to expand...

lol. Whatever you need to tell yourself bud.
 
aterry1067 said:
lol. Whatever you need to tell yourself bud.
Click to expand...
Don't need to tell myself anything. I know if I have a "house full of people" over, I will be turning back people that want to help. Especially when they hear $3500 vs a half hour trip to Lowes and back and at 1/5th the cost.
 
EdFred said:
Don't need to tell myself anything. I know if I have a "house full of people" over, I will be turning back people that want to help. Especially when they hear $3500 vs a half hour trip to Lowes and back and at 1/5th the cost.
Click to expand...

Lol. Uh-huh. Sounds good man.
 
AV8R_87 said:
Anyone here running a heat pump water heater? Looking for PIREPS.
Click to expand...
We've been running one a year and a half. Picked it up at Home Depot and self-installed. Works great and dirt cheap on electricity.

It's a hybrid...will run as 'regular' electric or strictly heat pump. The 'regular' electric has never been turned on. In our somewhat unique situation (essentially off-grid solar) it works well, sharing a space with the inverter and batteries...the cool water heater exhaust modulating the heat from them.

Jim
 
Sac Arrow said:
Two days ago.

I got new Iphone (16 pro.) It has a USB C connector. No headphone jack. Since it had no headphone jack, I bought a pair of Bluetooth earbuds. They are basically worthless for any activity except sitting, as they are not very secure in the ear. This can be remedied by aftermarket flanged earpieces, but then they won't fit in the charging case with them attached. IF ONLY I had known at the time that I could buy a set of USB C earphones - a cheaper, more reliable solution.

Yesterday.

The garage door didn't close completely. It didn't open all the way either. Repeated cycling did not fix the issue. In fact, it resulted in the door being stuck in the almost closed position. I went on my bike ride, came back, and investigated. The garage door spring broke. Four hours and three thousand dollars later, I had a new spring and a new opener. IF ONLY I would have left it alone, and called the garage door opener people from the getgo, I might still have had a functional opener. And of course none of the old remotes work despite the new unit being a Liftmaster like the old unit. I have a set of new, hopefully compatible fobs for the bike on order.
Click to expand...
Once upon a time garage door springs looked like this . . .
1749034695870.png
They cost $150 (just checked) and a mechanically inclined 14-year old could safely replace one.
Now they look like this A1-Garage-32.png
and cost $600 for the spring and $300 for installation (Midwest prices) because it is not a DIY job.
1749035176438.png Professors Mothersbaugh, Casales, and Meyers may have been correct.
 
billsgs126 said:
Now they look like this View attachment 141656
and cost $600 for the spring and $300 for installation (Midwest prices) because it is not a DIY job.
Click to expand...

I got my replacement torsion spring at Blaine's Farm & Fleet for a little over $100 (about 15 years ago) and replaced it myself. I had never done one before. It ain't rocket science. Nowadays they even have fancy winders that you can use an electric drill to set the spring tension with (I haven't used one of those).

A the beginning of that operation I went to Home Depot. I found extension springs but no torsion springs. I asked an employee and he said "We don't sell those because they're dangerous." I pointed to the electrical aisle and said "I can go over there, buy a 200 amp service panel, wire and breakers. Is electricity not dangerous?" I waited a bit while he was working on a response but then I had to go. It's possible that he's still there. :rofl:
 
EdFred said:
You must have a pretty **** group of friends and/or family if you think that sounds unusual. I feel sorry for ya.
Click to expand...


Really? You’re trying to insult my friends/family to make yourself feel better? I feel sorry for you.

Psst…show me where I said the people were friends/family.
 
EdFred said:
Nope. Saturday afternoon with people over means you have plenty of people willing to help. Took that completely into account when replying. Maybe my guests are more helpful. It's a Midwest thing.
Click to expand...
I'd want to evaluate how much alcohol had been consumed and which ones I'd want to send to the store for, oh anything, to keep them from helping. But, yeah I get the having plenty of help.
 
Replacing the torsion springs is not complicated, but those things store a tremendous amount of energy. If it gets away from you it can (no joke) kill you. I will do electrical work all day long (even replacing main disconnects hot on occasion), but I opted to pay somebody to do the door springs.
 
donjohnston said:
I got my replacement torsion spring at Blaine's Farm & Fleet for a little over $100 (about 15 years ago) and replaced it myself. I had never done one before. It ain't rocket science. Nowadays they even have fancy winders that you can use an electric drill to set the spring tension with (I haven't used one of those).

A the beginning of that operation I went to Home Depot. I found extension springs but no torsion springs. I asked an employee and he said "We don't sell those because they're dangerous." I pointed to the electrical aisle and said "I can go over there, buy a 200 amp service panel, wire and breakers. Is electricity not dangerous?" I waited a bit while he was working on a response but then I had to go. It's possible that he's still there. :rofl:
Click to expand...
That rates right up there with the last time I rented a car trailer.

"How come there are no winches on these trailers?"

"We removed them all because they are dangerous."

Um, like manually pushing a car up an inclined ramp is safer????
 
Sac Arrow said:
Two days ago.

I got new Iphone (16 pro.) It has a USB C connector. No headphone jack. Since it had no headphone jack, I bought a pair of Bluetooth earbuds. They are basically worthless for any activity except sitting, as they are not very secure in the ear. This can be remedied by aftermarket flanged earpieces, but then they won't fit in the charging case with them attached. IF ONLY I had known at the time that I could buy a set of USB C earphones - a cheaper, more reliable solution.

Yesterday.

The garage door didn't close completely. It didn't open all the way either. Repeated cycling did not fix the issue. In fact, it resulted in the door being stuck in the almost closed position. I went on my bike ride, came back, and investigated. The garage door spring broke. Four hours and three thousand dollars later, I had a new spring and a new opener. IF ONLY I would have left it alone, and called the garage door opener people from the getgo, I might still have had a functional opener. And of course none of the old remotes work despite the new unit being a Liftmaster like the old unit. I have a set of new, hopefully compatible fobs for the bike on order.
Click to expand...
Did you get Apple Air Pods or a third party brand?
 
donjohnston said:
I got my replacement torsion spring at Blaine's Farm & Fleet for a little over $100 (about 15 years ago) and replaced it myself. I had never done one before. It ain't rocket science. Nowadays they even have fancy winders that you can use an electric drill to set the spring tension with (I haven't used one of those).

A the beginning of that operation I went to Home Depot. I found extension springs but no torsion springs. I asked an employee and he said "We don't sell those because they're dangerous." I pointed to the electrical aisle and said "I can go over there, buy a 200 amp service panel, wire and breakers. Is electricity not dangerous?" I waited a bit while he was working on a response but then I had to go. It's possible that he's still there. :rofl:
Click to expand...
Great point - but I'd argue that electricity is more predictable than a spring under high tension... but again, great come back.
 
If the openers were ok, why didn't you just have the springs replaced? I had that done to one of mine, as apparently they eventually get tired.

I also avoided having to install new openers by replacing one of the motor units ($100) when it ate its brushes. Too bad it doesn't fail such that it doesn't lunch itself, otherwise I could have just replaced the brushes.

I think the correct answer is to get high lift / roll up doors and one of those garage door openers with a half horsepower motor and a reduction belt.

see previous rant

www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/threads/na-slow-garage-door-opener.140231
 
Last edited:
aterry1067 said:
Really? You’re trying to insult my friends/family to make yourself feel better? I feel sorry for you.

Psst…show me where I said the people were friends/family.
Click to expand...
My fault. I assumed that people you invite to your house for holiday weekend are, well, at least, friends. I don't recall the last time I let a gaggle of unknown people into my house, holiday weekend or not.
 
EdFred said:
My fault. I assumed that people you invite to your house for holiday weekend are, well, at least, friends. I don't recall the last time I let a gaggle of unknown people into my house, holiday weekend or not.
Click to expand...

Whatever man. I don’t owe you any kind of explanation or reason. Have a good day.
 
EdFred said:
My fault. I assumed that people you invite to your house for holiday weekend are, well, at least, friends. I don't recall the last time I let a gaggle of unknown people into my house, holiday weekend or not.
Click to expand...
The plumber, in the other hand, probably DID have friends and family over.
 
I programmed two fob remotes to work with the opener. I -can- actually open the remote with my phone, and did yesterday for my bike ride. There is also a camera on the remote, and I can view the camera through my phone. Exactly how useful it is, I'm not sure. I suppose it's confirmation that it is actually down if I'm away from the house.

Supposedly there is a thirty day free trial on the app. At the end of thirty days, I don't know exactly what is going to happen. I would assume I can still view the camera on my own garage door opener. If I can't, I will be pi$$$ed. I'm sure as hell not going to pay for some subscription. To be clear, I didn't buy the unit for the camera or remote opening capability. I wasn't even aware of it until it was installed.
 
Iphones haven't had heaset jacks in ages. These disappeared around the iPhone 4 long before the EU coerced Apple into using a standard (USB C) charging connector. One of the advntages of needing hearing aids is that the iPhone boogies directly into them. When driving around in a town we hadn't previously visited, Margy asked how I knew where I was going. I pointed at my head and said "I hear voices."

I've got pretty serious liftmaster openers because my doors are sheathed in plywood so that they match the hangar door. The springs on jackscrew are dang scary. I let the pros work on those. The opener is pretty simple other than that and I've adjusted that countless times (usually after the door closes on the tailgate or something and it loses sync with the position counter, my wife loves to just push the door close buttons when she enters the house without regard to whether there is something in the way onr not).

I bought home automation interfaces to let me open the things with the phone etc... but I don't ever use that. I just have the keyboad on the outside, the HOMELINK buttons in our vehicles, and a remote on the golf car, coupled with the two hard wired open/close/stop boxes on the wall.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top