Garage door too heavy then too light.

[glend123]

New to me garage and heavy insulated door. It's super heavy to lift off the ground and it's balanced in the middle and it springs up way too fast like it's too much spring at the top and not enough at the bottom. How is this adjusted? The springs seem small compared to the weight of the door.

 

[kelpaso1]

I have the same exact problem after I cut out a couple panels and added windows. I think bigger/thicker coils /springs are needed.

 

[btdobie]

This problem occurs when the springs are too short. You need new springs.

 

[ezover]

Are the rails bent or pinched at the bottom? See that all the time in warehouse settings.

The bottom of the rail gets hit and pinches the rollers or the rails get pushed closer together at the bottom, v shaped. the door will free up after you raise it a foot or two.

 

[Showkey]

Suspect the homemade insulation was added. It changed the weight significantly and the the springs were not upgraded to the new weight.

The are charts to size the springs.

One rule of thumb........you should be able to lift the door easily with one hand from the lower position.

 

[glend123]

Are the rails bent or pinched at the bottom? See that all the time in warehouse settings.

The bottom of the rail gets hit and pinches the rollers or the rails get pushed closer together at the bottom, v shaped. the door will free up after you raise it a foot or two.

I don't think so, but I'll check. it moves smoothly, just damn heavy to get started off the floor.

 

[firebirdparts]

You need a higher spring rate; The force from the springs is not changing soon enough. So the springs are actually "too long" but you can't just go by that alone. I know it's too complicated.

 

[larry_g]

Suspect the homemade insulation was added. It changed the weight significantly and the the springs were not upgraded to the new weight.

The are charts to size the springs.

One rule of thumb........you should be able to lift the door easily with one hand from the lower position.

This. Look up the charts for your door and you will find different springs for insulated and non insulated doors. You have to have a spring that is sized for the varying load throughout the motion of the door lift. the higher the door moves up and over the bend the lower the load on the spring. Your spring has to be matched to this varying load to have a smooth lift.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[BillK]

These guys have a ton of good info and videos on their site:

https://diygaragedoor.com/diy-instructions/

 

[gnpenning]

You need to weight the unsprung door. Radius of track, drum size and height of the.

You have no way to if the current springs where correct. Using the correct information will get you correct springs. Don't try to short cut.

I would add a top strut as well.

While you are there it will be a good time to check your cables replace as needed and buy a new center bearing.

 

[Jazz1]

My son tightened my springs after I had back surgery and had i was limited to 10b lift limit. He found a Youtube for reference
I could open door easily after he adjusted. They had not been adjusted since building the garage 20 years ago. Same size doors and springs as OP has in pics

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

OP. Someone adjusted the springs after the weight was added. That is the classic symptom of springs that are too weak, I repeat weak, for the weight of the door. They were overwound trying to compensate for the added weight. You cannot adjust your way out of this issue. Best way to get the correct springs is to get an accurate weight of the door in its rested state. Bathroom scale in the center of the door, close the door by hand then with a round winding bar, not a screwdriver, take the weight off the springs by turning the whole shaft, until the cables have a little slack. Just enough to be loose not loose enough to jump off the drums. Good luck.

 

[RKA]

OP. Someone adjusted the springs after the weight was added. That is the classic symptom of springs that are too weak, I repeat weak, for the weight of the door. They were overwound trying to compensate for the added weight. You cannot adjust your way out of this issue. Best way to get the correct springs is to get an accurate weight of the door in its rested state. Bathroom scale in the center of the door, close the door by hand then with a round winding bar, not a screwdriver, take the weight off the springs by turning the whole shaft, until the cables have a little slack. Just enough to be loose not loose enough to jump off the drums. Good luck.

That’s your answer. They cranked up those springs. When the door gets near the top of travel, the springs should be nearly unwound, only applying light tension on the cables. What you’re describing suggests those springs are overwound.

Alternative to weighing, you can call the door manufacturer if there is any info on the door. Usually it’s a sticker on the edge, but it may be covered up by one on the insulation panels, in which case I would just weigh it.

The spring does appear to belong to a single wide door not a double. Even considering it’s been overwound (thus shortened), it still seems far too small.

 

[glend123]

OP. Someone adjusted the springs after the weight was added. That is the classic symptom of springs that are too weak, I repeat weak, for the weight of the door. They were overwound trying to compensate for the added weight. You cannot adjust your way out of this issue. Best way to get the correct springs is to get an accurate weight of the door in its rested state. Bathroom scale in the center of the door, close the door by hand then with a round winding bar, not a screwdriver, take the weight off the springs by turning the whole shaft, until the cables have a little slack. Just enough to be loose not loose enough to jump off the drums. Good luck.

Thanks,. This is what I'm going to do.

 

[glend123]

OP UPDATE. So I bought new springs from DDM garage doors that has been recommended here a few times. I used their chart to order new springs based on the weight of the door and a few other factors on their order page. I installed them and I still have the same issue!
I've been talking to them about the problem, trying to figure it out. they confirmed the springs are the right ones. Thought I post about it to see if anyone has any other ideas?

 

[btdobie]

I'm really not sure what it could be, if it's not the springs. The best I can come up with is if the insulation on one of the center panels got water logged making it heavier than the rest do once it goes around the radius the weight on the springs drops off rapidly. That's pure speculation though. I've only ever seen this issue twice and springs solved it both times. Good Luck and please let us know if you figure it out for future reference. Thanks

 

[jcrxp5]

OP UPDATE. So I bought new springs from DDM garage doors that has been recommended here a few times. I used their chart to order new springs based on the weight of the door and a few other factors on their order page. I installed them and I still have the same issue!
I've been talking to them about the problem, trying to figure it out. they confirmed the springs are the right ones. Thought I post about it to see if anyone has any other ideas?

I have the exact same issue. Purchased through DDM via weight of the door. Did you ever figure out what was going on?

 

[glend123]

I have the exact same issue. Purchased through DDM via weight of the door. Did you ever figure out what was going on?

I adjusted the springs so it was balanced more towards the bottom so the opener didn't have to work so hard to get it started.
haven't touched it in 4.5 years and it seems to be working fine. make sure your drum size is correct, this seems to matter based on the manufacturer's questions they asked me.