Garage Door Repair

[TX63CONV]

Check me on my plan of attack to repair my garage door:

The attachment point for my garage door motor and spring are a 2x8 lag bolted into the wall. Hard to see from the picture but was originally one piece and has split. The side with the spring bracket is secure--the other side with the garage door motor chain is almost completely detached from wall.

Step 1-remove the lag bolts holding the garage door motor chain to the 2x8
Step 2-remove the bolts holding the spring to the broken 2x8
Step 3-remove the broken 2x8 from the wall
Step 4-install new 2x8--i have a 8' board but not sure I will be able to get the entire board into this space
Step 5-secure 2x8 to wall at studs
Step 6- re-attach spring and motor chain to new 2x8

Questions:
1-The spring worries me and I know can be dangerous; the middle bracket is just a support bracket and as long as i don't open the door, should be fine?
2-Does what I describe seem possible or should I call a professional to remove the spring and then replace the 2x8?
3-If too dangerous/complicated, would you replace just the broken piece on the right--the spring bracket seems solid?

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Even when I was younger, this is not something I would try to do on my own.
Those springs are really wound tight (not inserting joke, but I could).
You can buy a spring-winder device (I have seen them on Amazon and Youtube) that makes the process look safe/r and less intimidating.
Some guys might call you a wuss for not tackling this yourself.
BTW - your sequence of steps does not include anything about removing the spring tension.
Unless you have lots of time and almost no money I would advise you to call around and get it done by a pro. My guess is that a pro would do it for less than $500.

 

[BillK]

I dont think you need to remove the spring but I would definitely want to release all of the tension on it. If you dont feel comfortable doing that then call a local garage door company and have them unwind the spring. Then replace the block and have them come back and wind the tension back into the spring.

If you want to try the springs yourself this guy has some very good instructions and videos:

Garage Door Springs | Garage Door Repair | DDM Garage Doors

Shop for Residential & Commercial Garage Door Springs, Parts, Motors, Extension Springs, Dock Leveler Parts, High Lift Kits, In-House Training. Detailed DIY Instructions Available.

ddmgaragedoors.com

 

[The Cobbler]

doesn't look like you need to involve the spring at all since it appears to be anchored to the wall separately from the 2X

 

[matt_i]

the middle bracket is just a support bracket and as long as i don't open the door, should be fine?

Always good to think about what is resisting the torque on the moment spring as you wind it up from the free state....its the flange attached to the center support....(!!!)

I have wound and unwound several. I always use a piece of W1 drill rod (annealed/as-purchased state) which has a little more carbon in it than your average cold rolled round stock If I did quite a few doors I would knurl the ends for better grip but that's the weakest link.

 

[Junkman]

Whenever I read about a torsion bar spring, it brings memories back about a fellow who was on a ladder winding (or unwinding) a torsion spring, when something happened (possibly the bar coming out), hitting him in the jaw, knocking him off the ladder, and splitting his head open on the concrete. I was on ambulance duty that day, and we had to pick him up and transport him to the hospital. It looked more like a crime scene than an accident. Of the thousands of calls that I ran on the ambulance in my career, this is one that sticks in my mind. When my torsion bar snapped, I didn't give it a second thought or try to fix it myself, so I called in a professional. If you can afford to risk your life and limb and are willing to take the chance to save a few dollars, go for it. But for me, I want to live to be 100, so I don't take unnecessary risks.

 

[MovingAlong]

Questions:
1-The spring worries me and I know can be dangerous; the middle bracket is just a support bracket and as long as i don't open the door, should be fine?
2-Does what I describe seem possible or should I call a professional to remove the spring and then replace the 2x8?
3-If too dangerous/complicated, would you replace just the broken piece on the right--the spring bracket seems solid?

Answers:
1) No. There is significant energy stored in that spring wanting to be unleashed. Was at a friends house having dinner when a spring broke - so loud! So much energy! The spring is wound tightest when the door is down...
2) Call a competent professional who has experience. They will be slightly more expensive than some.
3) I would defer to the advice of a competent professional.

 

[Paycheck]

Garage doors are one thing that I leave to folks that are insured and provide a warranty.

 

[racecougar]

Check me on my plan of attack to repair my garage door:

The attachment point for my garage door motor and spring are a 2x8 lag bolted into the wall. Hard to see from the picture but was originally one piece and has split. The side with the spring bracket is secure--the other side with the garage door motor chain is almost completely detached from wall.
Step 0 - unwind both springs, counting number of quarter turns for each
Step 1-remove the lag bolts holding the garage door motor chain to the 2x8
Step 2-remove the bolts holding the spring to the broken 2x8
Step 3-remove the broken 2x8 from the wall
Step 4-install new 2x8--i have a 8' board but not sure I will be able to get the entire board into this space
Step 5-secure 2x8 to wall at studs
Step 6- re-attach spring and motor chain to new 2x8
Step 7 - rewind both springs to original tension
Step 8 - operate door by hand. Verify that it opens/closes with reasonable effort. The operator track pulling away from the wall would suggest that the door is requiring far too much force to close.

Questions:
1-The spring worries me and I know can be dangerous; the middle bracket is just a support bracket and as long as i don't open the door, should be fine?
2-Does what I describe seem possible or should I call a professional to remove the spring and then replace the 2x8?
3-If too dangerous/complicated, would you replace just the broken piece on the right--the spring bracket seems solid?

I added the steps in bold above.

 

[nadogail]

There is a lot of potential energy stored in garage door springs.

IMHO, they are as potentially dangerous as an electrical circuit.

 

[RoninB4]

-I would probably want to release/remove the springs, partly to evaluate replacement and mostly for safety. I replaced the springs on my garage door a few years ago when one of them broke. I used two winding rods I had from round stock, use two so you'll always have one rod holding tension. You'll need to get on a solid ladder to do this. I've been working in factories for decades and am accustomed to seeing the safe way to do things like this. If you aren't certain what that procedure should be or you don't feel comfortable doing this on a ladder then do call a professional. There's a lot of energy coiled up in those springs and the potential for serious injury is very real. The replacement of both springs went ok for me but I also approached this with caution, ladder and body position (out of the rod swing) is important. Ask if you need more advice, respect the potential here. Anybody that criticizes you calling a professional is an idiot and should be ignored.

 

[pima67]

had one of the springs on our door break on 8/6. Called for emergency repair because I needed to get the vehicle out. Emergency service (same day) was $200 with another $220 for two springs. Well worth the cost. (of course couldn't have gone any where to buy springs.) And springs characteristics are specific for a given door.

 

[firebirdparts]

The reaction of the spring goes through that 2 by. OP you greatly misjudge that situation. The center spring braket is under quite a large torque load. You'll have to unwind FIRST STEP.

 

[racecougar]

The reaction of the spring goes through that 2 by. OP you greatly misjudge that situation. The center spring braket is under quite a large torque load. You'll have to unwind FIRST STEP.

Yep. Step 0, in fact.

 

[JuncleJohn]

I’ve installed a few doors. My last two were an 18x12 and a 10x8. It can be done by a non-professional. You just need to read and follow the instructions, take your time and be careful.

Watching an installation video will also be beneficial.

John