Garage Door Cables
Anyone have any experience with correctly reattaching the two cables on either side of the garage door that uses torsion springs? This is NOT an extension spring/safety cable type of setup.
The springs are fine and completely intact and I don't want to touch them but the cables on either side of the door popped off the drums.
What is the correct proceedure for getting them correctly wound back onto the drum and attached to the bottom of the door with the loop and button setup so that they'll coil and uncoil properly when the door is raised or lowered? Do I preload them?
The springs are fine and completely intact and I don't want to touch them but the cables on either side of the door popped off the drums.
What is the correct proceedure for getting them correctly wound back onto the drum and attached to the bottom of the door with the loop and button setup so that they'll coil and uncoil properly when the door is raised or lowered? Do I preload them?
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if both cables are off yer screwed as far as not touching the springs.
once the cables no longer hold tension on the springs they go completely slack and will need to be re-torsioned.
one way is if you can get some muscle to help lift the door as far up in the track as it can go and lock in place with a pair of vice grips on each track against the bottom roller.
then loosen the bolts on the "drum" the cables go around, as well as remove the key that are in most to lock to the operator rod.
find the notch on the outside edge that holds the cable barrel,laying the cable to the inside and the barrel on the outside of the drum, and begin winding cable on the drum so that the end conected to the door is going between the door and drum. (so it lays flat against the door when closed)
when all cable is on drum, re-insert the key and tighten the bolts, you may have to turn the rod a bit to align the key-ways(the center between the two springs should have a 3 bolt connector to seperate the halves if need be)
when both cables are EVENLY tight the fun part begins...make sure all other fasteners are tight, then lossten the bolts on the free end of the spring. you will need 2-STEEL rods about 12 inches long, wood will not cut it for this! and be careful as these springs are wicked when tensioned!! (have seen one put a tightening rod into a concrete block, just glad it wasnt the guys head)
turn by hand as far as you can in the same direction as the cable winds, then useing the rods put another 2-3 turns and tighten the bolts again. do both sides before letting the door loose or it will cock in the frame and be a bear to move. biggest thing is to make sure the tension is even on both sides! try the door and see if it needs more/less tension. make adjustments with the door UP AND BLOCKED! there is a lot more pressure on the springs as the door goes down and turns it many more times than you could do by hand!
e- me if you have any more questions, much safer than "i think" and just trying it0 -
Be CAREFUL. I got hit by a bracket attached to the spring, via cable, in the face, just above my right eye. The only thing that kept it from killing me was the next roller/bracket. It hit, cut down the the bone and barely chipped the bone. Doc said I would have been killed or severely injured had I been bending down 1/2" more. 0 -
Thanks for the info and advice but as discretion is the better part of valor, I, in turn, advised my customer to call the garage door folks who installed her complete new door and opener several months ago and file a claim for warranty repairs. The torsion spring was completely relaxed and I wasn't about to screw around with makeshift tools to torque it back up. 0 -
Things I would hire someone else to do:
1. Remove my appendix
2. Fill my bicuspid
3. Pump out my septic tank
4. Fix my garage door.
As you noted, it is not worth the hazard. Pay the man and smile while you are writing the check!0 -
It looks easy, it is if you know what your doing.
I dont.
Had a side coil spring break in the winter while I was cleaning the toys.
That dang spring bounced off the walls & ground at least four or five times.
Good way to clear out the garage of bystanders quickly.
[:D][:D][:D][:D]0 -
i did the overhead doors in trucks for several years, and the ones at work now for another 5. believe me, there is a lot to keep an eye on when doin them. even the directions i gave are in the SIMPLEIST of descriptions tryint to keep it plain. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by 11b6r
Things I would hire someone else to do:
1. Remove my appendix
2. Fill my bicuspid
3. Pump out my septic tank
4. Fix my garage door.
As you noted, it is not worth the hazard. Pay the man and smile while you are writing the check!
Excellent words and advice to live by!0 -
I have had some garage door springs let go and really tear some stuff up.
Drink a few bears before you mess with garage door springs. Get a bunch of drunk buddies shouting advice. It is about as much exitement as you can have with your clothes on.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Warpig883
I have had some garage door springs let go and really tear some stuff up.
Drink a few bears before you mess with garage door springs. Get a bunch of drunk buddies shouting advice. It is about as much exitement as you can have with your clothes on.
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by Warpig883
I have had some garage door springs let go and really tear some stuff up.
Drink a few bears before you mess with garage door springs. Get a bunch of drunk buddies shouting advice. It is about as much exitement as you can have with your clothes on.
Roger that! We hammered a 12 pck the other night and did 2 doors and springs. It can be dangerous but if you got the stuff and are liquored enough you'll git'er done.0
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