View Full Version : Garage Torsion Springs busted tonight!!
TEAMRICO
08-27-2019, 21:47
Yes, BOTH at the same time!
Wife pulled in tonight she heard a loud BANG behind her but did not know what it was.
Anyways, both torsion springs snapped and I have to replace them.
Anyone know of a local parts place were they would have them?
Lowes shows nothing online but I will stop to check in the AM. Home Depot has them but seems to be ordered.
Most locations appear just installations. No mention of parts for sale. To late to call any.
Got wife?s car out after leveraging the door up so at least there is that.
Not an endorsement, but... https://www.garagedoornation.com/
http://youtu.be/02KaMvcbuDc
Doubt anyone local will sell you the parts. HD sure as hell won't. I had to order mine online.
Ace does carry some weights of springs. HD might too, at least they had tension springs.
You will also need some rods sized for the tensioner adjuster. They need to be snug and marked so you can tell if the rods are fully engaged.
Find the color markings on your springs that will tell you the weight of the springs you need.
Be careful if the rods slips you can loose eyes, limbs or life.
Have had busted springs replaced 2-3 times now. After watching the guy do it, there's NWIH I'd try to do it myself!
Have had busted springs replaced 2-3 times now. After watching the guy do it, there's NWIH I'd try to do it myself!
Be VERY careful, this might be one of the most dangers things in the house. I agree with Rondog, no way I’d do it myself.
I don?t know why people find this so scary. I have replaced two broken springs and then removed the springs when I replaced my garage door.
theGinsue
08-28-2019, 05:43
My daughter had one break a few months back. I know how to safely replace them, so... LOTS of research proved that I couldn't buy the springs locally but could get them online. Problem with that is that it isn't 100 that what the online retailers identify is the right spring for you (there are several factors which go into which spring is the right one - and you really need the exact spring).
Finally just called an old friend from church - J&C Garage Doors (J&C = John & Carla). They do good work for a lot cheaper than most other garage door companies (and yes, they are here in the Springs; 719-329-0400). The door was fixed the next day.
Good luck.
I use a guy named Ron Peper from Courtesy Door Service Inc.
TEAMRICO
08-28-2019, 08:38
Got some good info!
Thanks!
I agree with some other sentiments posted here; replacing those springs is like replacing the springs on a set of shocks for a car, I can do it but I’d rather pay someone else to risk losing teeth, eyes, limb or life.
kidicarus13
08-28-2019, 09:00
Be VERY careful, this might be one of the most dangers things in the house. I agree with Rondog, no way I?d do it myself.+2. Worth a few extra bucks to damage yourself?
Great-Kazoo
08-28-2019, 10:15
IF you replace them yourself. you'll need 2- 2' round bars iirc 1/2" id for the adjustment wheels and a piece of chalk to draw a line across the new springs. You have the line to show you when you have turned the spring enough to get 8 lines across the spring. The biggest issue is having the 2 rods set up so one is always against the header, which holds the adj wheel in place. Preventing the unit from spinning around with 1 rod stuck shattering your arm, wrist or skull.
I needed the springs readjusted and cost me $80 for a svc tech who's insured to do it.
This is definitely on my "not worth saving a few bucks for the possibility of screwing it or myself up" list.
Kudos to those who do it. I've watched some videos and I'm sure it's doable as a DIY. It's just one of those things that seems worth it to pay someone who knows what they are doing to knock it out and ensure that it works right and I don't end up with a steel rod through my head.
asystejs
08-28-2019, 10:33
I have a local garage door guy do it.
Both have broken a couple times in the 30 years we have lived here.
It costs a bit more, but it's worth it.
This comes up on every torsion spring thread.
Some people have enough skill and sense and the right tools to do it without injuring themselves. Some don't.
I've done it many times, but now have a Clopay EZ-Set system that came with my door so there's very little risk of injury.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Clopay-EZ-Set-Torsion-Conversion-Kit-for-16-ft-x-7-ft-Garage-Doors-219-lbs-243-lbs-LW-RW-ORANGE-A-16/207135218
Sadly, any garage door company you talk to wants to charge you extra to replace this perfectly functional system. Just sell me the fookin springs OK?
Colorado Osprey
08-28-2019, 19:14
All of the springs will have a tag. (The tag is from the installer) Take it to your local overhead door company. Here in Springs they are located off Powers and Ford street. The tag will tell them which spring and what length for your door weight. They will make them for you while you wait. Last time a set of springs cost be about $100. If in doubt have a professional do it. When putting up the cable or tension the springs it is pretty easy to get hurt or loose a finger if you do not know what you are doing. Its also pretty easy to bind up a spring or put it on the wrong side possibly causing failure or rapid disassembly if you are not familiar with how they work.
TEAMRICO
08-28-2019, 23:02
J&C is coming out Friday.
Much cheaper that I expected!
Great-Kazoo
08-29-2019, 00:46
This comes up on every torsion spring thread.
Some people have enough skill and sense and the right tools to do it without injuring themselves. Some don't.
I've done it many times, but now have a Clopay EZ-Set system that came with my door so there's very little risk of injury.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Clopay-EZ-Set-Torsion-Conversion-Kit-for-16-ft-x-7-ft-Garage-Doors-219-lbs-243-lbs-LW-RW-ORANGE-A-16/207135218
Sadly, any garage door company you talk to wants to charge you extra to replace this perfectly functional system. Just sell me the fookin springs OK?
Not bad if you have a 7' door. Some of us entitlement folk have 8x16 or larger.
TEAMRICO
08-30-2019, 17:45
J&C Garage showed up on time and knocked it out!
Great service and happy with the job and the cost.
PLUS I did not have to bust a sweat or lose an eye or finger!!
I would recommend if you need this work done.
theGinsue
08-30-2019, 20:56
J&C is coming out Friday.
Much cheaper that I expected!
J&C Garage showed up on time and knocked it out!
Great service and happy with the job and the cost.
PLUS I did not have to bust a sweat or lose an eye or finger!!
I would recommend if you need this work done.
Glad you liked them. They've always treated me right and I know their character so I trust they'll always do the right thing.
electronman1729
03-01-2020, 16:14
Bump, mine snapped today, wife is complaining she can't park in the garage.
TEAMRICO
03-01-2020, 18:07
I’m more aware of how many times a day the door goes up and down now!!!!
It's a lot easier to keep track while the spring is broken.
I have not replaced my spring setup; but I have adjusted it once and that made a world of difference in the force necessary to raise the door.
That like for the EZ-setup Torsion Conversion might be the way to go to keep the garage door balanced.
Ours busted a few weeks ago. Didn’t mess with it myself. I tend to like my hands and face better than I do 200 bucks to have someone else take that risk.
This thread got me thinking about how long it's been since they were replaced, and how much we use that damn garage door, and - hmmm, might be getting about that time - and BOOM! Sumbitch broke.
Sure glad Courtesy Door is so good, had it fixed the next day. Guy said he sometimes does 6-8 spring replacements per day!
Counterweight system is the answer.
Home-made or Commercial (http://hermco.ca/products/2000-series/)
http://hermco.ca/wp-content/uploads/uniquefooter.jpg
http://hermco.ca/wp-content/uploads/img_12.jpg
thedave1164
05-05-2020, 17:44
Replaced my springs today, not a bad deal at all, would not have tried it without using the winding bars I purchased with the springs.
Door goes up and down :)
Chris__Colorado
05-09-2020, 19:11
Now that is a cool idea! Is the counterweight made from concrete?
Was replying to the post with picture
"Counterweight system is the answer.
Home-made or Commercial"
(http://hermco.ca/products/2000-series/)Chris__Coloraod
Chris__Colorado
05-09-2020, 19:17
Now that is a cool idea! (counterweight for garage doors post earlier)
Simple physics and less parts.
I like it.
The counterweight idea applies force uniformly, doesn't it?
As the vertical panels go horizontal, which reduces the overall vertical load, won't it try to accelerate the opening movement? Whereas the tortion springs gradually apply less force as the door opens.
Separate cable spools for door and counterweight = more torque when the door is down.
The ratio is fixed. There's no variation in torque.
As the door raises, the door spool radius effectively grows while counter-weight spool effectively diminishes, thus continuously changing the ratio.
BladesNBarrels
05-10-2020, 10:43
How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
thedave1164
05-12-2020, 11:03
As the door raises, the door spool radius effectively grows while counter-weight spool effectively diminishes, thus continuously changing the ratio.
ouch, I just want to open my garage door, not make a trip to Mars :D
ouch, I just want to open my garage door, not make a trip to Mars :D
The garage door knows where it is, because it knows where it isn't.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZe5J8SVCYQ
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