Garage Door Alternate Opening Question(s)

[Motorman55]

I would like to eliminate the ceiling mounted center lift on my garage door. I have a standard insulated 8' wide garage door. Replacing it with one of those side mount screw type lifts is not an option right now. I'd like to have a open ceiling so as to add an overhead chain lift or one of those HF electric overhead lifts.

Is there a way to adjust the spring tension so as to enable me to lift the door manually without breaking my back. Is there a mod that I can do like adding an old style manual side chain like some commercial doors? Any suggestions?

 

[larry4406]

I’ve no experience with the spring system like yours. All my experience is torsion spring and they are certainly balanced for one hand operation.

Hard to see, but do your springs have a cable thru them? I thought the cable was SOP to capture the spring when it fails.

 

[Motorman55]

I’ve no experience with the spring system like yours. All my experience is torsion spring and they are certainly balanced for one hand operation.

Hard to see, but do your springs have a cable thru them? I thought the cable was SOP to capture the spring when it fails.

Yes, there is a cable that runs thru the springs to the rear mount.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Just remove the opener, the door should be balanced.
To try it out you can just pull the release at the top of the bracket attached to the door and lift the door.

 

[billconner]

I had Springs like yours on a manual overhead door - 18' - for years and no big deal.

 

[Bucko]

If you can't pull the release for the opener and open the door without alot of effort than either the springs are worn or they were the wrong ones to begin with. That style was in use before openers were available. I could be mistaken but I seem to remember some that had double springs for each side. If you can't open it manually than you are putting alot of stress on that opener and it will shorten the life.

 

[billconner]

the springs are worn or they were the wrong ones to begin with.

or not adjusted correctly

 

[Bucko]

If meme

or not adjusted correctly

I seem to recall that style does not get adjusted but just snugged up and they are basically fully relaxed when the door is up. Its been a long time since I messed with that style so I could be mistaken.

 

[Motorman55]

Ok, so I pulled the release handle and raised the door manually. It goes up very easily considering its a heavy insulated door. Going down I have to hold it back a little that last foot or so to keep from dropping hard. All in all it works just find manually.

What I think I'll do is over the next few weeks, I'll lift and close the door manually and see if I can deal without the electric door opener. Meanwhile I need to find a place to store the motor and long metal bar just in case I should need to put it back up, unless of course my budget increases and i can convert to a side mounted screw lift.

Thanks for all the tips.

 

[billconner]

If meme
I seem to recall that style does not get adjusted but just snugged up and they are basically fully relaxed when the door is up. Its been a long time since I messed with that style so I could be mistaken.

I snugged mine up a little and balance was better. I suspect just the spring getting stretched out a little over time.

 

[wssix99]

Ok, so I pulled the release handle and raised the door manually. It goes up very easily considering its a heavy insulated door.

All doors are like this. Your springs are sized to balance the door and do the heavy lifting for you. ...until they go bad.

Going down I have to hold it back a little that last foot or so to keep from dropping hard.

You might be able to adjust this for a softer landing and more neutral balance. The instructions for the door should instruct how to do it.

 

[bdbecker]

I think you'll enjoy the added space. The opener I inherited with my shop was on it's last legs so I removed it with the intention of installing a new one once I had my ceiling closed up. Five years later, I haven't missed having a powered opener at all and have no plans of reinstalling one. My case might be different from yours though, 90% of the times I open the door, its only a few inches for ventilation. The other 10% is to load materials/projects in and out, not vehicles.

 

[CraigStu]

You can tighten up those springs so the door opens almost w/o effort. I'd be tempted to go a little beyond that if I were planning to use manually. It is easy enough to put your foot on the handle to close it the last 4-6 inches and then twist the latch.

 

[billconner]

I think you'll enjoy the added space. The opener I inherited with my shop was on it's last legs so I removed it with the intention of installing a new one once I had my ceiling closed up. Five years later, I haven't missed having a powered opener at all and have no plans of reinstalling one. My case might be different from yours though, 90% of the times I open the door, its only a few inches for ventilation. The other 10% is to load materials/projects in and out, not vehicles.

I think it depends if you want to drive into garage while it's raining or snowing like crazy. I'd be fine with manual on a shop, but having to pull in and out every day I'd miss the remote.