Automatic Garage Door Spring

Users who are viewing this thread

Rburt5

Member
Messages
113
Reaction score
1
Points
18
Location
Canton, Ohio
The overhead spring on my automatic garage door broke. The opener is an older model. I already replaced the gears inside it a few years ago. Am I better off replacing the whole unit, or just replacing the spring?
 

Jimbo

Plumber
Messages
8,918
Reaction score
18
Points
0
Location
San Diego, CA
Openers have a very long life span, especially if you keep the DOOR adjusted and lubed properly.

Assuming you are talking about an overhead torsion spring, installing that is NOT a DIY job. The distributors I know of won't sell one except to a garage door contractor. You can get hurt REALLY bad messing with those. I would think for well under $200, you could get someone to come out and replace the spring.
 

Gary Swart

In the Trades
Messages
8,101
Reaction score
84
Points
48
Location
Yakima, WA
Jimbo has made the right call. Those springs are extremely dangerous for a novice and should be left to the pros. Repair or replace? Why not have the door people give you their opinion? It's a pretty good bet that all it needs is a few parts and servicing and you'll be good as new.
 

Jadnashua

Retired Defense Industry Engineer xxx
Messages
32,770
Reaction score
1,190
Points
113
Location
New England
If the spring is one of the long coils, then yes, you can replace them fairly easily and cheaply.

The best thing to do is to first weigh the garage door. You can do that by taking your bathroom scale and setting it under the door, after removing both springs. they make the springs in different strengths. After a bunch of coats of paint, the door is probably a lot heavier than it was...get one designed for what you currently have.

replace both springs even if the other one looks fine. You want the tension and strength to be even side-to-side. Also, if they don't come with them, buy the safety cables that go through them to prevent the spring from getting loose and maybe hurting you or breaking something (people have been severely injured by a broken garage door spring).

All new garage doors come with the safety cable.

The new openers also have several safety features, so a new opener might be in order while you're working on things. Most also have a remote that is much harder to clone or steal and gain access to your house.
 

Jimbo

Plumber
Messages
8,918
Reaction score
18
Points
0
Location
San Diego, CA
JAD........ we don't know for sure, but it sounded like he was referring to a TORSION spring, which is what my reply addressed.

The EXTENSION springs along each side....yes, they can be done safely by a DIY with some common sense.....such as you have to get the door UP and PROP IT UP with a 2X4 BEFORE you disconnect the door from the traveler! A double wide door, supported only by the spring on one side, cannot be lifted by the average guy alone,, at least not safely.
 

hj

Master Plumber
Messages
33,602
Reaction score
1,038
Points
113
Location
Cave Creek, Arizona
Website
www.terrylove.com
torsion spring

A friend of mine disregarded my advice to have a professional change his spring. He was thrown off his ladder and the tool he was using tore up his face, when he missed a stroke while tensioning it.
 

Rburt5

Member
Messages
113
Reaction score
1
Points
18
Location
Canton, Ohio
Thanks for all the advice. I wasn't planning on replacing the torsion spring myself. I've heard too many bad stories (like getting the spring coiled under the skin of your forearm from wrist to elbow). I just like to know as much as I can before calling the door guy. I don't want to end up replacing more than is necessary. I called a door company and they gave me a rough estimate of about $120 to replace the torsion spring (labor, tax, and parts). That's much more reasonable than I expected.
 

Ian Gills

Senior Robin Hood Guy
Messages
2,743
Reaction score
3
Points
0
Location
USA
I'm glad I do not have a garage. Sounds like a dangerous thing to have to me.

I'll just keep parking on the street thank you.
 
Top
Hey, wait a minute.

This is awkward, but...

It looks like you're using an ad blocker. We get it, but (1) terrylove.com can't live without ads, and (2) ad blockers can cause issues with videos and comments. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads.

If any particular ad is your REASON for blocking ads, please let us know. We might be able to do something about it. Thanks.
I've Disabled AdBlock    No Thanks