16' used garage door install.

[Badboybuggy]

Hello all,

I was given a 16' x 8' insulated garage door with all the hardware.. but this is an old door. it only has 1 torsion spring.
I was able to get the door to work manually up and down.. When I installed the opener that came with it the door would go up but could not push it down.. we would unhook the door and bring it down manually.
I saved my money and was finally able to purchase an Genie 1hsp opener.. it has the power but the door goes down all cockeyed and crocked...
My question is can I get a double torsion spring to work on this door? the problem that I am seeing is that my "bar" is a 1" hollow bar. all the double springs I see are fit for 1 3/4 shaft...

sure would be nice to get the door to work properly...

Thanks.

 

[kbs2244]

Not an expert.
I have only done my own and the neighbors.
But when you bring it down by hand does it track straight?
You may be pushing too hard and fast.

 

[KDXSR5]

My 16ft door only has a single spring and goes up and down fine. It sounds like there is an alignment issue when there is force applied at the opener attachment point on the door.

 

[dw1]

not an expert here either, but if you can manually open/close the door by hand, your opener should be able to do it.

 

[The Cobbler]

sounds like something wrong with the alignment and/ or spacing of tracks , and/or not installed level. when closing the door perhaps the closer is pushing it off kilter and binding?
1 spring , if it's the correct one will be sufficient

 

[oldmxracer]

No expert here either, only ever messed with My own !

Do both cables have the same tension when the door is down ?

 

[upndown]

Make sure the spring is mounted to the correct side of the center spring mounting bracket! R/W spring goes on left...L/W on right side.

With door open are cables wrapped tight around drum? If not close your door and completely rewind your springs assy. Make sure your door is level, if you need to shim it, make sure to add the same amount to the track on that side.

 

[Badboybuggy]

Hi all,

Just a quick update..
There really is not much to a door, just enough to make putting it up without instructions miserable..
I found this .pdf that really helped out..http://www.odcroseburg.com/downloads/instructions_install_torsion_spring.pdf

Short story long.. I did not have the spring on the torsion bar in the right place. I was centered at the anchor point. The center is suppose to be at the winding plug..

Sweet and quite door operation now... I have the Genie belt drive opener..

 

[CNGsaves]

Congrats on getting it working. If the single spring were stout enough to lift the door, then you're in business. Long-term, I think you might want 2 matching springs based on my experience below.

In my first house, had insulated door that was upgrade to the flimsy "builder grade" **** when we bought house. Installer re-used the single spring and added a 2nd spring that lasted around 10 years, with 2 springs working together. However, the weaker spring then broke. At that time, installer replaced the smaller spring with matching spring to the other (ie longer/heftier). It then had 2 matching springs and worked great with belt drive opener. Nothing beats the quiet operation of belt drive !!