Door cable bracket bent

[DustinB]

Hey guys,

i’ve been experiencing a 1 inch gap at the bottom of the door for the last month or so on one side (LH). Last week I started hearing pretty heavy resistance as the door was opened and closed. This week I finally had some time to take a closer look at things and found that the left-hand side cable spool is cocked outward a bit. That struck me as odd so I took a look at the right hand side. And that’s when I found what I think would be the biggest problem of all! The bracket metal is all bent up and looks to be getting ready to slip off of the shaft.

Has anybody experienced this kind of mangled mess before? Any ideas of how it would have happened or how to fix it? I really appreciate any and all help!

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Second picture makes it appear the cable is attached to the top of the door instead of the bottom. Is this an optical illusion or the way it is? Also, the right hand bracket appears like it should have been attached to the wall and wasn't. It appears your shaft is drifting right and left to cause the damage to those brackets. What is supposed to keep the shaft centered? Clamps near a center bearing that are not tight?

 

[Wrench97]

How do the bearings look?
A failed bearing will cause the shaft to misalign as will loose brackets.
The cable looks funny on the right side because the spool is too far in towards the center.

 

[Slednut]

Yeah, if someone installed that for you have them come back and replace the bent stuff and install all the fasteners.

 

[Innovate1]

You have some serious side to side float on the torque shaft. The springs and center bearing should prevent that. Post some pics of the center bracket and springs. No way there should be much side force on the brackets. I would loosen up the springs and figure out why the shaft is moving side to side. Fix that, then straighten the side brackets and put it all back together. That looks like it might come out at any time and I wouldn't want to be there when it does.

 

[Innovate1]

Yeah, if someone installed that for you have them come back and replace the bent stuff and install all the fasteners.

Definately. How long has this been installed?

 

[Innovate1]

How do the bearings look?
A failed bearing will cause the shaft to misalign as will loose brackets.
The cable looks funny on the right side because the spool is too far in towards the center.

The spools are close to the right position. The bracket is severely bent. When it is fixed put some blocks in so the tube end brackets can be fastened to the wall - the hole is there it just isn't on the wall because the 2x below doesn't extend up far enough.

 

[LeonardY]

Who makes your garage door? I would call the manufacturer and ask if they have had anything like this reported before.
I would get someone out to fix it. I would want all new brackets and hardware. I wouldn't try to bend that back.
It's really odd that it's splayed out on both sides.

Sorry, I don't have an other suggestions.

 

[wssix99]

The problem is here:

The wood on the wall should extend up above the header and there should be a screw through the top eyelet attaching the top of that bracket to the wall. The hardware is missing, so the bracket bent.

 

[Showkey]

Typical install of that bracket;

 

[DustinB]

Definately. How long has this been installed?

It’s been installed for a bit over 3 years now with no noticeable issues till now.

 

[DustinB]

Second picture makes it appear the cable is attached to the top of the door instead of the bottom. Is this an optical illusion or the way it is? Also, the right hand bracket appears like it should have been attached to the wall and wasn't. It appears your shaft is drifting right and left to cause the damage to those brackets. What is supposed to keep the shaft centered? Clamps near a center bearing that are not tight?

More of an optical illusion than anything. The very last couple feet of cable before it hits the spool were wedged up between the jam and the door.

 

[DustinB]

You have some serious side to side float on the torque shaft. The springs and center bearing should prevent that. Post some pics of the center bracket and springs. No way there should be much side force on the brackets. I would loosen up the springs and figure out why the shaft is moving side to side. Fix that, then straighten the side brackets and put it all back together. That looks like it might come out at any time and I wouldn't want to be there when it does.

How do the bearings look?
A failed bearing will cause the shaft to misalign as will loose brackets.
The cable looks funny on the right side because the spool is too far in towards the center.

Hate to be dumb but where should I be looking for bearings on this?

 

[DustinB]

You have some serious side to side float on the torque shaft. The springs and center bearing should prevent that. Post some pics of the center bracket and springs. No way there should be much side force on the brackets. I would loosen up the springs and figure out why the shaft is moving side to side. Fix that, then straighten the side brackets and put it all back together. That looks like it might come out at any time and I wouldn't want to be there when it does.

 

[FredWanaker]

I am not a garage door installer by my instinct looking at the photos makes me believe that spring tension is partially responsible here. The missing anchor bolt is the other part of it. If the tension on the cables is too great then the drum is pulled towards the floor. As that happens the geometry would move it out. Worse, that system is loaded and failure will sent things flying towards anyone near it. I think I'd get the parts to fix it immediately, take pressure off the springs, repair it and retension the springs correctly.

 

[Wrench97]

Hate to be dumb but where should I be looking for bearings on this?

The bearings are what the shaft passes through in the bent end brackets on both ends.

 

[Wrench97]

More of an optical illusion than anything. The very last couple feet of cable before it hits the spool were wedged up between the jam and the door.

That is because the spool/shaft is out of position it should be more towards the track to line up with where the cable is suppose to run
Although rare I would not rule out a broken shaft in the center of the springs either.

 

[DustinB]

Sounds like I’ll be calling someone lol. Ordinarily I wouldn’t think twice trying to fix most anything myself but the high tension and things looking like they’re ready to snap have a pretty intimidated.

 

[Wrench97]

Sounds like I’ll be calling someone lol. Ordinarily I wouldn’t think twice trying to fix most anything myself but the high tension and things looking like they’re ready to snap have a pretty intimidated.

There are some decent videos on Utube about door springs and doors but if you are not comfortable it's best to have someone look at it then you can watch and learn.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

I have installed 5 garage doors myself. I would be calling in a professional on this, as others have suggested. The pic of the closed door showing both springs appears to show left spring under compression and right spring relaxed. I wonder if the right spring is not atttached to the bar and the torque of only the left spring winding and un-winding is creating the back and forth motion that bent the right bracket since it was not installed correctly (missing upper bolt). I suggest multiple problems that need to be resolved.

 

[wssix99]

Sounds like I’ll be calling someone lol. Ordinarily I wouldn’t think twice trying to fix most anything myself but the high tension and things looking like they’re ready to snap have a pretty intimidated.

I think you have the skill to do this but if you haven't done one of these systems before, it would be beo bring someone else in. It's a lot easier to learn to install these springs safetly in a new installation with everything in good shape.

Because the bracket is bent, I would also do this with two people and secure the bent end to make sure the shaft doesn't pop out of the bracket while unwinding the springs.

BTW - Even though you had this up over a period of time, I expect that every cycle of the door opening put stress on that unsecured bracket (with it bending left and right each time) until the metal softened and it let go.

 

[PassnThru]

Typical install of that bracket;

This. Your flag(?) bracket is too short. On my doors the bracket extends about the same amount as in this pic but the top of my bearing bracket has a bolt going into the top of the flag bracket rather than the lag screw at the top of the bearing bracket. Either way gives it lateral support which you have none of right now.

 

[jstroede]

Yikes that's a mess. You need to replace the end brackets and better reinforce them and ideally attach them to the wall. There is nothing there that isn't fixable, but please don't operate the door until it is addressed. If you are not comfortable doing it, call in someone. As doors get larger, the danger goes up exponentially.

John

 

[haveissues]

To me it looks like the weight of the door is pulling the ends of the shaft down and that is forcing the brackets/bearings out. Those brackets look pretty flimsy for what looks like a decent sized door plus they are not attached to the wall. If you had a door company install the door I would consider asking a different door company for their opinion.

 

[Viper98912]

Yea there's so much wrong there. Here's a picture of mine -

Notice the flag bracket goes all the way up. The bearing plate is attached with a bolt to the horizontal track bracket, one bolt vertically to the flag bracket, and one bolt into the wall stud. There is a LOT of force on that bearing and bracket!

I don't think your shaft is moving; I think you're just lucky that they left a lot of shaft after your bearing and that it hasn't fallen off yet and really caused a mess. With your bearing plate bolted the way it is, it's basically just a flimsy piece of metal.

Who installed this? Because there really is just so much wrong here. And I'm not an expert. You will need a few replacement parts, not just the bearing and plate. This is a REALLY bad install. And garage door springs are fairly dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, so definitely call a door person. I don't do garage springs nor roofing.

 

[PassnThru]

What am I missing? What pulls that side of your door up? Do you not have cables on both sides of your door?

 

[Viper98912]

What am I missing? What pulls that side of your door up? Do you not have cables on both sides of your door?

Good catch, I had already had the springs/cables/drums loosened and removed as I was about to start drywalling. The shaft was up there as a prop piece for the picture

 

[jstroede]

Yea there's so much wrong there. Here's a picture of mine -

Notice the flag bracket goes all the way up. The bearing plate is attached with a bolt to the horizontal track bracket, one bolt vertically to the flag bracket, and one bolt into the wall stud. There is a LOT of force on that bearing and bracket!

I don't think your shaft is moving; I think you're just lucky that they left a lot of shaft after your bearing and that it hasn't fallen off yet and really caused a mess. With your bearing plate bolted the way it is, it's basically just a flimsy piece of metal.

Who installed this? Because there really is just so much wrong here. And I'm not an expert. You will need a few replacement parts, not just the bearing and plate. This is a REALLY bad install. And garage door springs are fairly dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, so definitely call a door person. I don't do garage springs nor roofing.

The flag bracket is correct. His just doesn't go to the bracket because his has 15" radius track and you have 12".

That being said, the install was poor. If that was a 100 lb 8x7 door, you can get away with an install like that. That is a 16x12 door that sees a lot more force. New bearing plates and a proper install should take care of it.

I bet that thing pops and bangs all of the place with how that spring is wound too. That could have contributed a little to the side loading of the bearings as well. If I had to guess, I would guess that the shaft wasn't really level either, being a little high or low in the middle.

John

 

[firebirdparts]

What did you expect? It can’t handle the load unless it’s installed correctly. Its inadequacy installed like that should be blazing obviousness to anybody.

 

[Viper98912]

The flag bracket is correct. His just doesn't go to the bracket because his has 15" radius track and you have 12".

I thought that there were longer flag brackets for each radius?

 

[jstroede]

I thought that there were longer flag brackets for each radius?

Only when you go to larger than 15" radius, like 20" or 32" radius. Not all bearing plates even have those holes to bolt them like that.

 

[DustinB]

Hey all,

Just wanted to report back in. Found a tech to take care of all the issues for $175. Went through every nut and bolt of the thing and its rolling better than I think it ever did after the initial install!

 

[DustinB]

Hey all,

Just wanted to report back in. Found a tech to take care of all the issues for $175. Went through every nut and bolt of the thing and its rolling better than I think it ever did after the initial install!

 

[Wrench97]

Looks like he added a brace to the bearing bracket?

 

[kbuhagiar]

Well done.

Sometimes it boils down to just finding someone who really knows what they are doing, which seems more difficult than before, as most folks today have been conditioned to accept sub-standard work and products as the norm.

 

[DustinB]

Looks like he added a brace to the bearing bracket?

Yeah, went up and gave it a good yank after he left and it seems solid. Crazy how a bit of box tubing can add so much strength.

 

[LeonardY]

Yeah, went up and gave it a good yank after he left and it seems solid. Crazy how a bit of box tubing can add so much strength.

Good techs have seen it all. Glad you got it taken care of.