Bowtie
Member
What is the easiest/safest way to release the spring tension on a 16'x7' sectional garage door?
Thanks, Craig
Thanks, Craig
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door spring question
- Thread starter Bowtie
- Start date
nova65ss
Well-known member
What is the reason you need to release the tension? If the door is a non insulated steel door you could just lift it all the way up clamp it off from falling and unhook the cables. The just let it down dead weight. If it is a heavy wood door you will need winding bars and unwind the springs. Be careful one of my techs went to the ER yesterday because he wasn't paying attention and ripped the top of hs hand up pretty good.
Bevis
Well-known member
I hauled a guy and 3 of his fingers to the trauma center yesterday....that spring is dangerous.
CraigFL
Well-known member
I'm assuming you mean a torsion spring because a tension spring is pretty easy....
(Both should be done with the door in the open position).
What I do is to find two round, stong bars about 18" long that fit into the holes of the torsion spring wheel. When I say "fit", I mean fit --- resonably tight, and "strong" meaning best would be some high carbon barstock, not just two pieces of 1/4" reddi rod you find laying around the shop. Make sure they can be inserted into the holes easily and securely. Then remember tofollow the "wingwalking rule" -- never let go of what you have until you firmly have another hold. Using a bar, increase the tension ever so slightly so you can pull the stay pin out and then slowly start releasing the tension by letting it unwind -- a lot of people let it rest on their shoulder while they put the next bar in. Then lift up slightly to pull the first bar out and so on...
The key to staying safe is to use good bars and do it slowly to be sure the bar is secure in the hole.
(Both should be done with the door in the open position).
What I do is to find two round, stong bars about 18" long that fit into the holes of the torsion spring wheel. When I say "fit", I mean fit --- resonably tight, and "strong" meaning best would be some high carbon barstock, not just two pieces of 1/4" reddi rod you find laying around the shop. Make sure they can be inserted into the holes easily and securely. Then remember tofollow the "wingwalking rule" -- never let go of what you have until you firmly have another hold. Using a bar, increase the tension ever so slightly so you can pull the stay pin out and then slowly start releasing the tension by letting it unwind -- a lot of people let it rest on their shoulder while they put the next bar in. Then lift up slightly to pull the first bar out and so on...
The key to staying safe is to use good bars and do it slowly to be sure the bar is secure in the hole.
I just checked on nova66 coment.
On my door, when it is up the cables are slack. So the springs are unwound.
The problem is you have a heavy door up at the celing.
So, like he said, what are you trying to do?
I would do a Google on garage door adjustment. There are some good sites out ther that walk you through it pretty well. After a few years of soaking up moisture and being painted, I had to adjust the springs on my door.
I read all I could find and did it by the book, but I was still suprised at the force in those springs.
Do not do it alone. An extra pair of hands is nice for getting tools. And it gives you some comfort factor.
Be sure your bars fit the holes just right. At lest 18 inchs long. 24 is better.
Use a strong step ladder.
On my door, when it is up the cables are slack. So the springs are unwound.
The problem is you have a heavy door up at the celing.
So, like he said, what are you trying to do?
I would do a Google on garage door adjustment. There are some good sites out ther that walk you through it pretty well. After a few years of soaking up moisture and being painted, I had to adjust the springs on my door.
I read all I could find and did it by the book, but I was still suprised at the force in those springs.
Do not do it alone. An extra pair of hands is nice for getting tools. And it gives you some comfort factor.
Be sure your bars fit the holes just right. At lest 18 inchs long. 24 is better.
Use a strong step ladder.
CraigFL
Well-known member
P.S. Most people use vice grips in the track on each side to hold the door up while you're releasing the spring tension...