Garage door springs.

[drcoastline]

I built new doors for my garage a little over a year ago. I think they are heavier than the doors I replaced. I do not think the springs have enough tension to help the door opener lift the doors. As a result it seems the door is cocking in the track and stopping about 1/3 the way up. No issues closing.

Any way to tell by looking the spring tension on my existing springs? The garage door store has several springs of varying tension but I don't know what I have in order to get the next level of spring.

[kach22i]

I used to install stuff like that almost 40 years ago, my uncle did all the heavy thinking.

I did find this:

Sectional Garage Door Extension Springs
Sectional Garage Door Extension Springs

On sectional garage door springs this is normally 15 percent. For example a 100 pound pull spring requires 15 pounds of weight to separate the coils; when a door is open the two springs will support 15 pounds of door weight without any stretch.

The springs we used ran across the opening, the ones in the article are different.

I suggest you calculate the weight of your door and purchase locally with the advice of the installers/store keeper.

I suggest a mom and pop operation and not some franchise or chain store. Talk to someone with a lot of gray hair or no hair at all.

You might even get a good deal on something refurbished.

They might be able to sell your used springs to someone else, ask for a small discount if you can turn them over.

[T77911S]

how to adjust springs, not an expert BTW

release the door opener so you can open it by hand
lift the door, is should be very easy. it will get easier as it goes up. there needs to enough weight on the door so it will come back down.
if it is getting cocked the sides may not be balanced.

check the door opener, there may be some kind of "calibration" as to how far it opens.

[drcoastline]

Oops sorry,

Kachi,

Good Info thank you. After look at the site you posted I looked at my springs. They appear to be red. So making progress. Now to figure out how to weigh my doors? I doubt our scale will be any good for this?

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by T77911S

how to adjust springs, not an expert BTW

release the door opener so you can open it by hand
lift the door, is should be very easy. it will get easier as it goes up. there needs to enough weight on the door so it will come back down.
if it is getting cocked the sides may not be balanced.

check the door opener, there may be some kind of "calibration" as to how far it opens.

There in lies what I believe is the problem. It is not easy to lift and until almost all the way up stays very heavy. The springs are doing little if anything at all. The old door was relatively easy to lift. I am sure these doors weigh much more than the old doors. My guess 100lbs or more each over the weight of the old doors. I believe the opener which I installed new last year when I installed the new doors I believe is doing all the work. The opener has a bar mounted center line on the door. If it is off even the slightest and the springs are not assisting that would account for the cocking in the track.

[jwasbury]

nothing constructive to add other than: be careful! Changing out and messing with those springs can be dangerous. I had an incident changing out a broken spring on my garage a few years back. Door was open which is necessary when working on the springs so they are not tensioned...dumbass me didn't prop the door open with a rod or similar tool. The single spring (that I wasn't messing with) was not strong enough to hold door open, and the door came crashing down with me up on a ladder while trying to attach the cable to the pulley. Ended up with my hand trapped in the pulley Luckily was just a flesh wound but could have been much worse.

Hopefully my dumbass move and near miss experience can save someone else from injury

[SCadaddle]

From that article linked above:



Safety cables are very important to have on extension spring doors. You typically will not need to replace these cables, but if you do not have them, you should consider purchasing them. The cables run through the length of the spring and contain the pieces of the spring when it breaks. These protect people from injury or death, and they protect cars and other valuable items from being damaged when the spring breaks.

I can tell you from experience you'd better have these fitted!

[stomachmonkey]

I don't mess with garage door springs.

I like my face and other assorted body parts just the way they are, attached and not mutilated.

You guys who play with that **** have way bigger balls than me, not afraid to admit that.

[drcoastline]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have safety cables. The only cheat I have at the moment is my obstruction sensors are on top of the door opener. So it doesn't sense if something is under the door when closing. These will be properly installed as well.

[JackDidley]

If you look you will find lots of choices. You can use a single heavy spring or a light one on each side Some springs have numbers painted on them. A 250 would be for a big 250# door. If you release spring tension and lower the door onto a bathroom scale it should give a very close weight. The cables need to be adjusted exactly the same or the door will tweak or not set down on the floor evenly.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by kach22i

I did find this:

Sectional Garage Door Extension Springs
Sectional Garage Door Extension Springs

Very useful and timely link. One of the first projects on the list as soon as I'm back on my feet is to rebuild my garage door mechanism. I have an old wooden door with tension springs. It's all old and needs to be replaced.
THANKS Kach!

[T77911S]

you may have to get heavier springs.
I am pretty sure when my doors are all the way up there is no tension on the springs. may be how you want to "balance them"
I am assuming you have the springs that parallel the tracks.

you might find someway to put a scale on the door when it is down and then contact a garage door place.

[drcoastline]

Yes, Parallel springs. I'll try the bathroom scale.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

Yes, Parallel springs. I'll try the bathroom scale.

I was thinking torsion springs when I posted. Nevermind..........

[Skytrooper]

As a former garage door installer/repairman I can tell you what needs to be done.
The issue you have is that garage door springs are matched to the weight of the door. Your new do it yourself door is way to heavy for the old doors springs.
Call your local garage door company....schedule an appointment for them to do the work. It will be quicker and safer than you can do it. I mean c'mon you have a Porsche, 150 bucks shouldnt break the bank like those springs will do to you.
I have seen the blood and gristle of too many do it yourselfer/youtube mechanics to not advocate for the trained professional.

[cabmandone]

Post 13 answered my question about spring type!
I can't help on the setup you have. Your door is cocking because you're spring tension isn't even though.

[drcoastline]

Thanks for the input everyone. Skytrooper, I am sue not enough spring tension is the issue. No doubt in my mind. You're right I'll call a door company.

[dad911]

Springs are good for 10(ish) years. Time for new anyway? Check the rollers. Cheap to change.

[john70t]

With the trailer doors we drew a grease pencil line across, then attached and turned each about 7 times using two bars.
Cant let those bars slip or ya get a broken finger or hand.

Just noted for reference. Obviously garage doors are bigger and procedures vary.

[rattlsnak]

Weight of the door matched to the right spring tension by color of spring. Just did mine a few weeks ago. 30 minute job including the safety cables which my original springs did NOT have. One of the originals snapped and holy jeebus, it sounded like a shotgun went off in the garage and pieces went flying!! Super lucky nothing got damaged or anybody hurt!