Overhead 2car garage door winding???

[dino]

Hello DIY-ers,

I have brocken torsion spring (one of two) on my 2 car garage door, 16"x7", wood with glass panells. I have had bought replacement pair of torsion springs. They sent me 2" longer what I ordered. Is this going to be the problem?? Actually I have question about how many times should I wind torsion springs to be like before??? I didn't count how many times those springs was winded before. Does anyone know how many times should I wind those springs?? Is this going to make me big trouble because they are 2" longer that those old ones??? If I put in next few months more weight onto garage door (if I put insulation, do I need to wind again those torsion springs and how many times)???

Please send me an email to [e-mail] or post to this board.

Thanks in advance.

Very sincerely,

Dino K

[Herb Stein]

Every time I've replaced, they always said to start at 7 full turns and fine tune from there. Be VERY careful! The bars you use for winding come out like a bat out of hell if they slip or get away from you.

I don't know about the length issue.

-- Herb Stein [e-mail]

[Tom]

What Herb said:> Be VERY careful!

Tom Work at your leisure!

[m Ransley]

If you never did it hire a pro . Door springs are not to learn on, a mistake can loose you a hand.

[tomcas]

This may help.

[Rich]

The extra length of the spring is going to give you less IPPT. What's going to happen is that the door is going to be strong in the open position then falls to the floor when you get it to come down. Shorten the springs before you install them.

[Chip Stein]

give it 7 turns and lock them down, then disconnect the opener and see if it balances at the middle position, and adjust from there. be carefull!! if the bar comes out it's going to get exciting. we always used 3/8" extensions, or pieces of re-bar work also. Chip

[dino]

OK,

I did it. When I disconnect from 1/2 HP motor, then I can lift all the way up easily, but the door balance about knee hights. Should I wind more or not?? How can I balance door now?? Is it going to make me any trouble if it's not up to waist hight or should be more or less open?? I wound 8 times. When I use electric opener, the garage door open much better than before torsion spring brake down.

Thanks for any advice.

Very sincerley,

Dino D-Tech Service

[Joe]

Please don't put a square peg in a round hole. Cold rolled steel is cheap.

Seven turns is usually about right for a replacement spring of the correct IPPT (inch pounds per turn). Since the new springs are 2" longer than the originals, they will be a bit weaker, causing the door to be heavy on the floor and hot in the header. This can sometimes be alleviated by "dropping" the cables one rung and may require thirty quarters to compensate. Styrofoam insulation is light and should not change the springs counter-balance too much.

Before starting, lock the door down, or vice grip it in place. You don't want any unexpected mishaps. Take your time, pay attention and study Truetex's webpage before starting, (He's done an excellent job, and I often send my customers there if they want to know "how-to"). Just be carefull and use common sense. I don't like working around someone elses blood after a failed attempt. I have enough of my own blood on me, I don't want to see your's. Joe

[dino]

Thank you guys for your kindly advices. Yesterday, I have had succesfully replaced torsion springs all by myself for first time. It wasn't so hard like I thought it would be. I guess, nothing went wrong to give me enough trouble to take my hands off and call someone professional to do this job. I wound 8 times, then I tried to balance door, then I wound 1/2 turn more, so the door balance little bit better now. Tried to open and close many times, they work just fine. Even better than the old ones. Much easier is to lift door and put them down. Doesn't make so many noises like before. Those torsion spring even they are 2" longer, it seams to me to don't make any diferences and problems so far. I hope they will not make trouble in future. If I put more weight when I insulate those doors ( I am thinking to put stiroform on it), should I paint before with new coat of white color or not?? They are wood with glass. Went to that page from truetex and I was following his advice. Great source for DIY-ers. Thanks one more time for helping me out. If someone of you guys need some computer & network help, let me know. Will be more than glad to help you out.

Very sincerely,

Dino D-Tech Service

[Joe]

Dino, You're not going to get a very good R factor out of a wood door, but... Most homeowners that do put styrofoam on them, usually go for the blue backer board stuff and nail it on with roofing tacks or spray adhesive. That serves the purpose here quite well (it doesn't get very cold in Arkansas). As far as painting it, that's up to you. I don't see any substantial problems with either way you choose to do it.

Part of a service call to change your springs also involves doing a little maintenance. Go back out there and check a few things before you call it done.

Make sure that all of the hinges are tight, wood doors tend to loosen the nuts over a period of time.

Check the rollers, especially the top two. If they're bad, replace them.

Lightly oil everything that moves. Hinges, rollers, springs, and bearings.

BTW, congratulations on a job well done.