HELP! Garage door broke...while shut!
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
From: NW Illinois
HELP! Garage door broke...while shut!
Hey all, I need a little help here. Just backed my truck into the garage and the door was closing. Heard a big WHAM just as the door closed. The tension spring above the door snapped in half (on one side). The other side is still connected. There is a ton of tension on the door now. What is the best way to disconnect the spring from the good side with all that tension. I have heard horror stories of guys working on these......and I have never had to mess with one. Looks like I could disconnect the cable but I didn't know if that is a good idea???
Thanks!
Thanks!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: Washington
You have to lift the door back up to the full open position and that will release the tension on the spring that is still good. You can get replacements at Home Depot or Lowe's. While the door is up install the new one. Just eyeball the other side to get your measurements. It doesn't matter if the new one isn't an exact match, adjust the chain where it hooks up to compensate for the difference. They are not very expensive, I think it was less than $20 last time that I replaced one of mine.
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
From: NW Illinois
Thanks for the reply. I was able to get the door to open. It is a nice heavy Raynor door though.... I will have to check at Home Depot tomorrow for a spring. In the mean time I had to close the door again beause we are supposed to get about 4-6 inches of snow tonight....Thanks again!
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: north central illinois
growning up on a farm i learned to do alot of stuff and there are very few things that we had someone else do. garage door springs is one of them. i did one once. you have to tension it in the down position and there is a correct tension it needs to be put too. call the pros out they will have it done so fast and they do make it look easy, but then again that's what they do for a living and most of the have 24 hour emergency spring repair also if you really need it done FAST!!
***** on a side note after posting it let me ask thing question. is it a cable and spring set up on the sides of the door or a coil tension spring attached to the rod across the wall above the door?? if it is the spring and cables on the side those are easy and require no special tools. if it's the coil on the rod on the wall them are the dangerious ones
***** on a side note after posting it let me ask thing question. is it a cable and spring set up on the sides of the door or a coil tension spring attached to the rod across the wall above the door?? if it is the spring and cables on the side those are easy and require no special tools. if it's the coil on the rod on the wall them are the dangerious ones
Last edited by sparky30_06; Jan 5, 2005 at 05:38 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
From: NW Illinois
Originally Posted by sparky30_06
growning up on a farm i learned to do alot of stuff and there are very few things that we had someone else do. garage door springs is one of them. i did one once. you have to tension it in the down position and there is a correct tension it needs to be put too. call the pros out they will have it done so fast and they do make it look easy, but then again that's what they do for a living and most of the have 24 hour emergency spring repair also if you really need it done FAST!!
***** on a side note after posting it let me ask thing question. is it a cable and spring set up on the sides of the door or a coil tension spring attached to the rod across the wall above the door?? if it is the spring and cables on the side those are easy and require no special tools. if it's the coil on the rod on the wall them are the dangerious ones
Part of the reason I let them do it is it was the type that is coiled on the rod above the door. I didn't even watch them just so I wouldn't be tempted to repair another one myself down the road!
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: north central illinois
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
From: NW Illinois
I'm in Morrison. It's about 10-12 West of Sterling//Rock Falls on Rt. 30. It's just an hour to Dekalb on I-88. I wondered where you were from when I saw it said N/C Illinois. Some good farm ground up that way. As long as you guys don't become West Chicago! 
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
From: Bobcaygeon Ont.
Be very carefull when tensioning. I had one let lose on me one time!! That little harmless looking bolt that tightens it to the shaft took the end of my thumb and turned it into chop suey!!! BE CAREFULL!!!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,570
Likes: 20
I know someone whos Dad lost an eye to one of the torsion springs, pitched the punch right into his eye. Also you can get a compression fracture to your back lifting a door with broken springs. Use three people, two on the door and the third to put a saw horse under the door so you can change your stance when lifting it. When its up use C-clamps on the track so it won't accidently fall.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 3
From: Friendswood, Texas
Lots of Potential Energy in those springs. Obviously someone had to figure out how to do the first one but I think it's best to learn how to do this while assisting someone who has done many before. Call out the pros if you are not sure.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Rural Minnesota
Torsion springs require 1/2 x 18" round bars to release tension and reset. Whe I do these, I use 2 bars and release in 1/4 turn increments and reset the same way. Different size doors require different total revolutions. Example-8' x 9' steel insulated will take about 7 to 7 1/2 full revolutions for proper tension. If your door uses extension springs on the side of the door, they should ALWAYS be replaced as pairs. Take one with you to the overhead door company and they will be able to match it up by the paint color on the end of the spring. Torsion spring doors must be closed to set the tension. Extension spring doors must be fully open to install. Hope this helps.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Midnite1987
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
39
Jun 12, 2012 06:10 PM
gintstone
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
5
Feb 8, 2009 01:51 PM
renee
Explorer, Sport Trac, Mountaineer & Aviator
3
Jul 30, 2008 02:51 PM
herman391
General NON-Automotive Conversation
13
Sep 14, 2007 11:37 PM
raldur
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series
13
Apr 13, 2004 10:12 PM
