Garage doors can be damaged in many ways, but most of them are easy to repair. But, talking about the tension spring issues is more serious.
What does a garage door tension spring do?
Garage door tension springs Richmond TX are designed to lift heavy doors and can cause injury if not properly taken care of.
How can you fix a tension spring in your garage door?
You can easily rebuild your entire torsion spring system with the right tools and following instructions. This article will show you how to replace garage door springs for the most common type, those that mount on a bracket above your garage door.
It’s a good idea to get a few estimates from professionals before spending hours on your garage door repair.
Start your garage door spring replacement project with a measurement of the springs (length, diameter). Next, measure the width of your door. Be sure to include the trip, labor, and parts charges in your quote.
Figure A: Garage Door Lift System
Step 1: Lock down the door
Clamp the door to the track
Use clamp-locking pliers to attach the track above one of the rollers. This will stop the overhead garage door from bouncing up and breaking your nose during the garage door repair. Before you begin any garage door spring repair, unplug the opener and pull the cord.
Step 2: Loosen the unbroken spring
Use the winding bar
Put a winding bar into the bottom of the winding cone. While you hold the bar in place, loosen the screws. Hold on tight, the spring will pull with powerful torque as the screws are released.
Step 3: Unwind the unbroken spring
Use two winding bars
At the 9 o’clock position, place the second winding bar into the hole. Remove the bottom bar, and then unwind the spring a quarter turn at a stretch. Then, leapfrogging the winding bars with each turn.
Step 4: Detach the springs from the center bracket
Remove the nuts and bolts
First, remove the two nuts and bolts that fasten the stationary spring cones to the center bracket. Then glide the springs toward the end brackets.
Step 5: Secure the torsion tube
Use locking pliers
To secure the torsion tube inside the bracket, attach a C-clamp or locking pliers to the bracket. Then loosen the setscrews at the right and left lift cable drums to disconnect the lift cables.
Step 6: Remove the old spring
Slide the torsion tube over
Slide the torsion tube from the left side of your garage door to the right, so you can remove the cable drum. Next, slide the old spring off the tube.
Step 7: Buying replacement parts
Calculate the wire diameter
Take a tape measure, and place the hook between the two spring coils. Then note the length of the 20 coils after that measure 40 coils. Convert the measured values to a decimal (4-1/8 in. for example, 4.5 in. or 4-1/8 to 4.125 Divide the measurements by 40 and 20 to get the spring’s diameter. Here’s an example: Divide 4.50 by 20 =.225 in. Wire diameter: 9.0 divided by 40 = 0.225-in. wire diameter. Need to be measured correctly to match the results.
Step 8: Install the left spring
Reassemble, then hang on the bearing bracket
Place the new torsion spring on the torsion tube, with the stationary cone facing towards the bracket. Reinstall the cable drum and garage door wire. Then reinsert the torsion bar into the left-side bearing bracket.
Step 9: Install a new center bearing
Connect stationary cones to the bracket
Slide the bearing on the center, and then move the torsion rod to the left. Install the right spring then push it into the stationary cone. After that reinstall the drum and connect the stationary cones to their respective brackets.
Step 10: Replace the bottom brackets, rollers, and lift cables
Deal with rusted parts now
Place the lift cable loop on top of the pin in the new bracket. Then insert the new roller. Next, replace the bottom brackets with new cables.
Step 11: Thread the cables
Anchor the cable in the slot
The garage door wire or lift cables should be run straight up between the doorjamb and the rollers. Slide the lift cable stop into the slot in the drum.
Step 12: Tighten the drums
Make the tension equal
To lock the torsion tube in place, attach a pair of locking pliers to the end. To wind the cable, rotate the drum. Before tightening the set screws, pull the cable as tightly as you can. Keep the locking pliers in their place, and tighten the cable on the opposite side. Equal tension is required on both sides. If the tension is not equal, the garage door will be opened unevenly.
Step 13: Wind the garage door tension springs
Follow the spring supplier’s recommendations
Slide a winding rod into the cone, and wind towards the ceiling. You will turn the spring one-quarter turn at a stretch, leapfrogging the winding bar as you go. For the number of turns, follow the recommendations of the spring supplier. For a 7-foot-tall door, you can perform 30-quarter turns, and for an 8-foot-tall one 36 quarter turns.
Step 14: Stretch the springs
Tap the winding bar
Once the spring is fully wound, tap on the winding bar to extend the spring about 1/4 inch from the center before tightening the setscrews. Turn the setscrews so that they touch the torsion tube. Next, tighten the screws one-half to three-quarters of a turn. Torsion tubes can be damaged or punctured if the screws are tightened beyond this point.
Step 15: Lubricate the spring
Use a garage door lubricant
Slide a piece or grocery bag made of paper or cardboard between the springs and the wall. Spray garage door lube on the spring. The excess should be wiped off.
Finish With a Test of the Garage Door Tension Spring
Remove the clamps off the track and torsion tube, and lift the door by hand about 3 feet. The door should remain in place if the springs have been adjusted properly. Add a quarter turn to each spring if the door slides when you release it. Repeat if necessary. Continue to release the spring tension for a quarter turn until the garage door closes on its own. Lastly, reconnect the opener.