Garage Door Balancing Questions

[VietGnome]

In the process of installing 3x garage doors on my new build. One 8x8 and two 10x10s.

The 8x8 seems good, but I cant get the 10x10 balanced.

I'm right around the prescribed spring rotations (either right on or down 1/4 turn). The issue is as is the door is just barely being pulled off the seal when fully closed, yet at no point will it stay open on it's own. It falls no matter what.

They'll eventually be getting wall mounted openers, but I'm unsure if I will get power to it before winter, so i don't want to be stuck with manual doors that aren't balanced.

 

[Sumboodie]

They not horizontal tracks?

 

[gizardlizard]

I’ve always adjusted doors to balance like this: open 50% and the door should stay put. Open to 75% and the door should stay put or slowly open the rest of the way. Door closed 75% and the door should very slowly close on its own.

 

[Wrench97]

What size pullies did they give you for the 10'ers?
Do they have the larger diameter cable groove for first wrap?

 

[VietGnome]

I’ve always adjusted doors to balance like this: open 50% and the door should stay put. Open to 75% and the door should stay put or slowly open the rest of the way. Door closed 75% and the door should very slowly close on its own.

The problem is if I do that the door literally wont close all the way.

 

[matt_i]

I feel like you don't have the correct spring(s). I feel like it should be longer with more coils or larger diameter coils. To get more counterbalance at the top you have to wind it tighter. But, that won't let it close in your current scenario. The longer spring will have a lower "rate". The guys who do this every day will know.

Upper track is horizontal (?)

 

[VietGnome]

What size pullies did they give you for the 10'ers?
Do they have the larger diameter cable groove for first wrap?

I can check the size tomorrow, they're bigger than the 8s for sure.

They do have a larger diameter.

I had some issues with the door gapping only on the right which I solved by resetting the drum while having someone hold the door tight to the ground as I reset the drums. Not sure if that would work here.

 

[VietGnome]

I feel like you don't have the correct spring(s). I feel like it should be longer with more coils or larger diameter coils. To get more counterbalance at the top you have to wind it tighter. But, that won't let it close in your current scenario. The longer spring will have a lower "rate". The guys who do this every day will know.

Upper track is horizontal (?)

Upper track is horizontal. It came with two springs that were both labeled "10'" from the factory. I can check but I believe they're larger than the 8'

 

[Wrench97]

I can check the size tomorrow, they're bigger than the 8s for sure.

They do have a larger diameter.

I had some issues with the door gapping only on the right which I solved by resetting the drum while having someone hold the door tight to the ground as I reset the drums. Not sure if that would work here.

How much cable is left on the drum when the door is all the way down?

 

[BillK]

I'm right around the prescribed spring rotations (either right on or down 1/4 turn).

I have done 4 doors in my life and to be honest with you I have never paid attention to "how many turns" I have simply wound the springs up evenly until the door opened and closed as it should.
This site has a ton of good information on springs:

https://ddmgaragedoors.com/