A broken garage door torsion spring can be a very frustrating and time-consuming problem. It is important to take care of this problem as soon as possible. This article will provide you with tips on how to repair a broken garage door torsion spring.
Garage Door Torsion Spring: What is it?
The torsion spring is a coil spring located on the top of the garage door. It helps to keep the door balanced and in place. The tension on the springs should be checked regularly for signs of wear or damage. If any signs are found, it is best not to wait until the spring breaks before replacing them.
Safety First!
Fixing springs for a heavy door is quite dangerous, there is a lot of tension on the spring and if it breaks, it can cause some serious injuries. If you are not comfortable with fixing the springs or do not have the proper tools, please call a professional to help you out. Here are some very important safety notes to consider:
Winding bars are absolutely essential. Forget about fixing your torsion spring if you don’t have a winding bar. Using pliers, screwdrivers or any other object to wind or unwind a spring is an extremely dangerous idea.
Make sure the garage door opener is unplugged and that the door is locked in the lowered position, this is especially important when winding the torsion spring.
Wear protective glasses at all times when winding springs. In addition, make sure to position your ladder so that you are not directly in front of spring cones when winding the spring. When testing the balance of the door, before you unclamp, make sure to step off the ladder and stand to the side of it.
Ok, now that we have got that out of the way, let’s start repairing your garage door torsion spring
Tools You Will Need
- Wrench
- Socket Wrench Set
- Pry Bar
- Cordless drill
- Clamps
- Winding bars
- Hammer
- Locking Pliers
- Rags
- Ladder
Plus, the materials required, such as:
- Double-life Garage Door Torsion Spring (the number of springs required will depend on the size and weight of the door)
- Bottom brackets (if your door has an extension spring system, you have to have bottom brackets. If not, they should be installed)
- Pulleys and Lift Cables (for easier lifting/lowering of the door)
Once you have all of your materials gathered, it is time to start repairing that broken garage door torsion spring. If you feel unsure about any of the following steps, please consult with a professional garage door technician.
How to Repair a Broken Garage Door Torsion Spring
Step 1: Lock the garage door
Clamping the garage door in a closed position prevents injury and damage while you are working on it. Also, make sure that the opener is unplugged and that no one will try to open the door while you are working.
Step 2: Loosen good spring
Insert the winding bar into one of the holes in the winding cone on the good side of the door. Hold on the bar tight while you loosen the setscrews with your other hand. Once the screws are loose, use a second winding bar and set it at 9 o’clock position in the winding cone. Remove the bottom bar and unwind the cone quarter turn at a time.
Step 3: disconnect the spring from the center bracket.
Using a socket wrench, loosen the center bracket. Remove the two nuts and bolts that connect the bracket to the spring. Slide the spring off the bracket.
Step 4: Secure torsion tube
Use a c-clamp or vise grip to hold the torsion tube in the center bracket. Loosen the screws on the right and left lift cable drum and remove the cables from the drums.
Step 5: Remove old spring
Remove the old spring by sliding the torsion tube to remove the cable drum and then slide the spring off the tube.
Step 6: Install new spring
Slide the new spring over the torsion tube. Slide the cable drum onto the end of the spring and reattach the cables to the drums. Tighten screws on right and left lift cable drums.
Step 7: Connect stationary cones to bracket
Install a new center bearing plate and stationary cones onto the bracket. Slide the bearing into the stationary cones. Reinstall the drum and connect the cones to the bracket with bolts.
Step 8: Replace the brackets at the bottom, lift cables and rollers.
Replace the brackets at the bottom of your garage door then attach the cable loop to the pin on the new brackets. Insert brand new roller and install new brackets in place.
Step 9: Thread the cables
Insert cables in the slot on the drums. Make sure that the cables are run between the doorjamb and rollers. Pull the cable tight.
Step 10: Tighten up the drums
Tighten the drum on each side of your garage door. Make sure the tension is equal and that the cables are not twisted. Pull the cable tight before tightening screws.
Step 11: Wind the tension springs
Insert the winding bar into a hole in the cone. Turn the bar in a counter-clockwise direction, a quarter turn at a time. Do this on both sides of the door to get an equal amount of tension. Make sure to follow the supplier recommendation on how many turns you should do.
Step 12: Stretch the new springs
To do this, you need to tap the winding bar with a hammer and stretch the spring from the center about a quarter of an inch. Tighten screws again. Make sure you do not over-tighten the screws or you will damage the shaft.
Step 13: Spring lubrication
Using a garage door lubricant, spray the entire length of the spring.
Step 14: Test the garage door
Test the door by manually lifting it by about 3 feet. It should stay in place if the springs are properly tensioned. Make adjustments if necessary.
Step 15: Re-install the opener
Replace your garage door opener or reattach it to the header bracket if you had removed it for safety reasons while doing repairs. Make sure everything is secure and test again before closing up all exposed areas of the door, such as where cables attach to rollers.
Garage Door Repair Near Me
Torsion springs on your garage door eventually wear out, just as the door itself does. This means that you should know how to replace a broken spring so that it doesn’t cause injury or damage when it breaks unexpectedly. While repairing your garage door is possible with the right tools and techniques, it is still dangerous and should not be attempted by anyone who is not experienced in this type of repair.
Calling a professional to fix problems in your home is always the safest option, and this is especially true when it comes to garage door repairs. A professional will have all of the necessary tools and knowledge to complete the repair quickly and safely.
The post How to Repair a Broken Garage Door Torsion Spring? appeared first on Garage Door Repair San Antonio.
source https://efficientgaragedoor.com/blog/how-to-repair-a-broken-garage-door-torsion-spring/
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