garage door torsion spring


 
Dave Mazz said:
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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similarly, when we work on auto springs, one of the tools is called a widow maker. for a resaon.

i'll gladly spend money for a pro to do a job. i still value my time on this earth.
 
One torsion spring broke on our main garage door here several years ago. For what the local guy charged to come out and replace both springs, as well as a general inspection, I won't even think about getting the ladder out.
 
JKalchik said:
One torsion spring broke on our main garage door here several years ago. For what the local guy charged to come out and replace both springs, as well as a general inspection, I won't even think about getting the ladder out.
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Yeah. same here. I bought the rods and gave it a go, but the amount of force on that spring shocked the daylights outta me. Will never try again. For a few $$ labor it's a no brainer. I've done plenty of struts in my day though. No issue with correct tools. But o/head doors? No way Jose
 
I've replaced/installed many garage door openers over the years. I draw the line at replacing the springs. I went so far as to start to remove one on one of my garage doors last time it broke. I'm glad I stopped and called someone to fix it. I'm not going to lie, I was scared of what could go wrong.
 
Dave Mazz said:
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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Dave, I'm so sorry to hear that but that's exactly why I won't mess with those springs. I also won't do any electrical work in my house unless I turn off the main breaker.
 
Garage door springs have a fixed life of several thousand cycles.
You can replace it with one in kind. There are upgraded ones available that have higher life cycle.

I replaced one about 10 years ago that failed after 15 years.
I would not say it's hard. It is hazardous if done carelessly.
You should get winding rods with your new spring. They fit in the holes and you use it to turn and wind the spring. The place I bought my spring from included them for free. There are internet places that just specialize in garage door springs. The winding rods are basically about 2 ft long half inch diameter steel bars.

It's a lot of force and a lot of stored energy. Especially to do while standing on a ladder. You're probably applying about 70 lb to that spring at 18 in or so on that rod. It's a fair amount of torque. If you slip and you're in the line of fire it can kill you. Stay off to the side and the most you would get is a broken arm.

It is something you need to give great care and attention to while you're doing it. Having a second person to lock the collar in place while you're holding the spring helps. But everyone needs to stay out of the line of fire of those rods
 
I do not have the tools, experience or inclination to acquire the first two so, I’d just call “the guy”.
the door was installed almost 25 years before the spring went, if I have one break again, I figure it will be my last.
 
On a slightly different note, I am looking to replace my failing Chamberlain belt drive opener with one of the new direct drive units. I may be wrong but if I am reading up on them correctly they do not need or use the spring for assistance and have you release tension once the unit is installed. Regardless I am looking forward to installing one and getting rid of the overhead monstrosity so I can install even MORE LED lighting :D An old guy's gotta have his light!
 
LMichaels said:
so I can install even MORE LED lighting
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Oh, I'm right there with ya, hoss. 2 stall garage with a single door, and a single light socket over each stall. 100 watt equivalent LED bulbs made a huge difference, and a 100w equiv in the opener itself.

A couple of years ago, part of the drive mechanism failed in the opener. Turned out that the fastest way to fix it was to go spend a little at HD and get the current model of this exact opener (pretty sure it was original to the house, 1993.) All I did was replace the head, and kept the new tracks, chain, etc. I now have the repair bits for the old head, eventually, I'll put in the back garage.
 
Our garage door system is just over a decade old. I'm so glad I came across the advice here. When the time comes, I'll let the installer do the replacement, while I sit comfortable on the far side of the house.
 
LMichaels said:
On a slightly different note, I am looking to replace my failing Chamberlain belt drive opener with one of the new direct drive units. I may be wrong but if I am reading up on them correctly they do not need or use the spring for assistance and have you release tension once the unit is installed. Regardless I am looking forward to installing one and getting rid of the overhead monstrosity so I can install even MORE LED lighting :D An old guy's gotta have his light!
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Can you post the model?
 
IDK the answer to it. I thought I had read tension was supposed to be released once installed. I could've read wrong
 
I think you would still want the springs.
If the power goes out or you have a faulty opener you can still disconnect it and open the door manually.
 
timothy said:
I think you would still want the springs.
If the power goes out or you have a faulty opener you can still disconnect it and open the door manually.
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Yep, these doors only feel feather light because they're counter sprung. They weigh hundreds of pounds. That spring does all the work for you
 
Larry, & Dan you guys are right the side wall mount units do not need the big door spring, or the door lift track springs and cables so a more wide open ceiling access to storage. they cost 2x as much but muck less to go wrong and may last a little longer. Gennie was rated very high with 3 models in the top tier.
 
Kevin L (NKY) said:
Larry, & Dan you guys are right the side wall mount units do not need the big door spring, or the door lift track springs and cables so a more wide open ceiling access to storage. they cost 2x as much but muck less to go wrong and may last a little longer. Gennie was rated very high with 3 models in the top tier.
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My liftmaster 8500 side mount opener requires springs and a balanced door. It cannot open a 250+ pound door on its own.
 
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