adjusting garage door??

[DanC]

I have an uninsulated garage door that'll have to suffice till I can get a new one. One problem is it hits the floor on one side and has about a 4" gap on the other. How do I adjust it so it contacts the floor evenly all the way across? It has a long spring on each side and cables and pulleys and an opener.
Also, whatever weatherstripping there was on the bottom of the door is gone. What can I use to replace it, where do I get it?
Tired of leaves, snow, dirt, blowing in the garage...thanks-

 

[nova65ss]

Sounds like they are extension springs that strech along the horizontal track. If so make sure they are not old and "stretched out" basically look at them when the door is up and make sure the coils are uniform.

If one side is higher than the other you will need to tighten the spring on the side that is lower or loosen the side that is higher. Open the door even with the header at full height and clamp it off with vice grips to keep it from falling when you undo the cable. Make sure you do not try and adjust the springs when the door is down and the springs are under tension. Sometimes if the pulleys are worn out it will also cause one side to "stick" and cause a gap at the bottom corner, check them also.

 

[mhoffm911]

Beware the danger of changing springs yourself (if you have to go that far). They are under very high tension. I have had both of mine replaced now at a cost of $165 each side (2 separate incidents). Unless you know what you are doing, this can be a dangerous repair. I was happy to write the check instead of having to do it myself.

 

[Franz©]

Only ONE question applys before any advice can be given; Is the door level when in the down position? If so it isn't an adjustment situation.

 

[kbs2244]

In agreement with Franz.
Is it the door or the floor?
I have put "wedge" shaped filler pices across the bottom of doors trying to meet crooked floors.

 

[nova65ss]

Extension springs are only dangerous when the door is down, they are also sold at any Home Depot or Lowes for under 10 bucks a piece. As long as you have the door up there is not much to worry about, they are not as dangerous as a torsion spring.

I am also not sure how the door can be touching on one side and 4" up on the other and still be level?

 

[DanC]

Good advise - I'll take a look at all those things mentioned. I'll check the pad to see how level it is. If I remember correctly, when you look at the header the panels in the door are crooked to it as well. Pretty sure the opening is square I do think one side of the door is coming down farther than the other. The whole thing is pretty old so I'm sure springs, pulleys etc. are worn. It is the style that has two horizontal springs above the tracks. Thanks for the help so far!

 

[kbs2244]

It sounds like something is broke, or a cable off a pully.
Nova has it right. Both kinds of springs are relaxed when the door is up, so that is when you work on them. Open the door and use a good sized vice grips to keep it in place.
Then you can replace cables, springs, pullys, whatever.
Measure twice.

 

[Junkman]

When you replace the springs, or even adjust them, install the safety cable through the center of the springs. That way, if one of the springs ever breaks, it won't be like an unguided missile. They sell the safety cables at HD/Lowe's/etc. They are relatively cheap, and they can save your life if the spring ever breaks...