garage door torsion spring


 
DanHoo

DanHoo

TVWBB Olympian
Yeah, mine broke. at least there's not a car stuck inside.

it's on a 2 car sectional garage door

Spring measurements:
2 inch ID
.250 wire
30 inches long

is there an "upgrade" option? or do I just go with another same specs?

are two small springs better than one larger one ?
 
DanHoo said:
Yeah, mine broke. at least there's not a car stuck inside.

it's on a 2 car sectional garage door

Spring measurements:
2 inch ID
.250 wire
30 inches long

is there an "upgrade" option? or do I just go with another same specs?

are two small springs better than one larger one ?
Click to expand...
I would try a get an exact replacement.

There are more variables than just length, diameter and gauge of wire for springs- and it’s not something you want “springing up” at you.
 
LMichaels said:
Well one piece of advice I'll give you is hire a pro! I tried this once ONLY once. I will never touch a garage torsion spring ever again. I remember years ago, my uncle tried to repair his. He gave up after it launched a screwdriver through the back wall of his garage. Nothing to mess with
Click to expand...

I've done it before on this door and a couple of times for friends. It takes the right tools, and knowing the number of turns to get the door properly balanced. A screw driver is not the right tool.
 
John_NJ said:
I would try a get an exact replacement.

There are more variables than just length, diameter and gauge of wire for springs- and it’s not something you want “springing up” at you.
Click to expand...

I was thinking I could spring for an upgrade it if would last longer as this door is used a lot. I think I replaced these about 15 years ago so I guess I should just look for a quality spring that matches this.
 
I did this last year and contracted a garage door company for the repair.
They came out and gave a free estimate and full parts and price list including labor not to exceed.
They had new style springs and cables, they also replaced both springs on this wide 16 foot door to keep things in balance.
I would call a couple places for estimates and then use those to even out the price.
The tech did tell us that opening your door a foot or so to let out hot air in summer months puts undo strain on the door springs . As they are in tension on the going up and down travel but relax in the full up or down.
And this also gave a warranty I can not rememberhow many years I think like 10.
 
15 years isn’t a bad run.
Depending on life experience it would be worth calling the pros.
 
I replaced two in my life; the last time was October 2019. Maybe it was luck but I didn't experience any real struggles and I've tackled more complicated tasks in my days such as removing a strut from a spring assembly and replacing a heater core housed behind a dashboard. I did the strut because I was too poor; these days I wouldn't dare do that - I'd remove the entire assembly and take it to a shop to change the struts.

My most recent replacement was on a double wide door with two springs. Only one broke but I replaced both and ordered them here: https://www.expressgaragedoorparts.com/

I don't know the answers to your question but that website might have some info.

Good luck!
 
Kevin, that’s good info re having the door open slightly. I do that a lot to let air flow and keeps the hounds in check. I hadn’t heard that before.
 
I would consider messing with it yourself only if the door was fairly new and brand name and you could get an exact replacement part and you had the specific directions and the necessary tools/equipment. Mine has red bolt heads for a reason. Older ones might not.

I imagine a pro would try to upsell you on new rollers, motor, chain, etc.
 
The spring when new has a white stripe painted on its full length. And when you twist it to put tension on it that stripe must have some many complete twist per foot of spring and that puppy has some seriuos tension on it . He used two 24 inch half inch rods one to hold the spring one to pull the tension . I guess there is a how to on U Tube . I never looked for it I have had these replaced before and there warranty works..
 
DanHoo said:
I was thinking I could spring for an upgrade it if would last longer as this door is used a lot. I think I replaced these about 15 years ago so I guess I should just look for a quality spring that matches this.
Click to expand...
I needed springs for a project I was working on and had to have them custom made.

I knew the length, diameter, max load, max extended length, spring rate, number of coils and yet the engineer at the fabricator gave me six different options with variables.

It’s really a complicated science from what I learned.
 
We added a attic fan to the
BryanO said:
Kevin, that’s good info re having the door open slightly. I do that a lot to let air flow and keeps the hounds in check. I hadn’t heard that before.
Click to expand...
Garage 18 inch model that takes care if the air flow problem and much cooler also. It is a DC motor that uses less power.
 
BFletcher said:
I did the strut because I was too poor; these days I wouldn't dare do that - I'd remove the entire assembly and take it to a shop to change the struts.
Click to expand...
Having gone the strut route both ways (in that order and for that reason), I would add the professional shop will also, without even thinking about it, make sure that everything is assembled correctly before they tension everything up.
 
BFletcher said:
I replaced two in my life; the last time was October 2019. Maybe it was luck but I didn't experience any real struggles and I've tackled more complicated tasks in my days such as removing a strut from a spring assembly and replacing a heater core housed behind a dashboard. I did the strut because I was too poor; these days I wouldn't dare do that - I'd remove the entire assembly and take it to a shop to change the struts.

My most recent replacement was on a double wide door with two springs. Only one broke but I replaced both and ordered them here: https://www.expressgaragedoorparts.com/

I don't know the answers to your question but that website might have some info.

Good luck!
Click to expand...
Ok, springs are ordered. I'll schedule the ER visit for Saturday :D

edit: now I just need to find my bars...
 
Have had it done a couple times. Not a job for a DIY'er. I did have one garage door company replace with a heavier gauge spring that he said would last longer.
 
DanHoo said:
I was thinking I could spring for an upgrade it if would last longer as this door is used a lot. I think I replaced these about 15 years ago so I guess I should just look for a quality spring that matches this.
Click to expand...
no such thing as a quality spring. they ALL break, eventually, fifteen years of life is extraordinary time and use.

our door spring breaks around every 4-5 years. the door and spring is underrated for its use model and the builders up here chose crap over quality.

so, i'd just replace with an exact replacement. i'd also hire it out as i don't want to die when torsioning a spring.

if you ever upgrade the door and springs, size it correctly and you'll get more lifetime out of a spring. but eventually, they ALL do break.
 
DanHoo said:
edit: now I just need to find my bars...
Click to expand...
I was somewhat amazed to have found my bars stored on the peg board three years ago, which means they made the move to the new home. I don't recall when I replaced the first spring but it may have been ~2000. Back then I shopped at Sears Hardware rather than Amazon, so I can't look it up, lol.
 
Had a friend killed trying to install a garage door spring. One of the two metal bars he was using to torque the spring slipped out his hand. The other bar hit him in the head and opened up his skull. He died instantly. Nothing to try if you are not a professional.
 
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