High lift garage door conversion ?s

[toms73novass]

Hey guys,

I don't post much, mostly read like crazy.. I will be building a 2 car shop next year, however, I acquired a 2 post rotary lift for a awesome price and want to put it in my existing garage now. The problem is that the garage door is in the standard location.

So, I would like to raise it to within 4" approx(edit: of my ceiling). My question is are these all the parts that I would need and where can I get them, (any where on line?)

Track extension for extra height (any thing special about the extra height or basically is it just more vertical height and a standard curve at top?

I unfortunately have a Wayne-Dalton torquedrive system, from what I understand they can not be converted to high lift because there are no special drums for the ends... so,,
I would have to convert to standard torsion bar & springs and support plates, with high lift pulleys on end and new cables for the extra length.

Am I correct in what I need and is there a good source on the Internet to get these parts at a good price?

Thanks

Tom

 

[bmwpower]

You must have missed this discussion:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1912

And for parts, try here. They seem to have decent prices:

http://www.americandoorsupply.com/

Good luck!

 

[nova65ss]

Hey Tom,

W. Dalton actually makes a track extension for the bottom of the tracks that is 3" long. It basically clips on to the end of the vertical track. You will need to remove the tension from the springs and raise the tracks and opener straight up. Not a difficult job being it's a TMS system. That will get you close and keep you from needing to convert it to torsion, you can also get 2 and get it up 6".

Jimmy

 

[toms73novass]

Hey Tom,

W. Dalton actually makes a track extension for the bottom of the tracks that is 3" long. It basically clips on to the end of the vertical track. You will need to remove the tension from the springs and raise the tracks and opener straight up. Not a difficult job being it's a TMS system. That will get you close and keep you from needing to convert it to torsion, you can also get 2 and get it up 6".

Jimmy

Jimmy,

I am looking to go up 20", so from what I believe you are saying the W. Dalton extension will not work for me because I need 20", or am I missing something?

Thanks
Tom

 

[nova65ss]

""So, I would like to raise it to within 4" approx. My question is are these all the parts that I would need and where can I get them, (any where on line?)""

Hey I read this thinking you wanted to go 4" higher but I'm guessing you mean w/ in 4" of the ceiling? If you need to go 20" higher that will require alot of work and converting to a torsion system. Sometimes you can get an entire door with high lift for less money. How wide is the door?

 

[toms73novass]

OOps sorry about the confusion my fingers were slower than my brain, forgot the cealing part.

I have a 16x7 insulated door.

Tom

 

[toms73novass]

bmwpower,

Thanks for the links!

Tom

 

[toms73novass]

I've been thinking about it more and I had an idea. My dad has basically the same garage door as mine. I could swap the lifting system with his. He has a torsion spring setup. Then all that I would have to do is get new cables longer vertical extension and high lift drums correct?

 

[nova65ss]

I've been thinking about it more and I had an idea. My dad has basically the same garage door as mine. I could swap the lifting system with his. He has a torsion spring setup. Then all that I would have to do is get new cables longer vertical extension and high lift drums correct?

Same as in a Wayne Dalton brand? If so yes you can switch the spring systems. Need longer cables, high lift drums, 20" off track and some jamb brackets. As always be careful with the springs on either door. The WD TMS springs backwind with a drill on the 7/16 bolt facing out on the end bearing plate.

WD doors are much lighter than most other steel insulated doors so if they are made by someone else the springs may be too strong. NOt a big deal I can let you know the size of the torsion spring if youi need it.

Jimmy

 

[Brad54]

I cheated. I called the garage door guy, and had him do it. I don't like fooling around with garage door springs and cables. Plus, he'll dial in the tension just perfectly, align everything and make the door practically glide up and down.
One thing to note: On my door, because it goes up along the wall above the door, it had to have the outside handle removed. That wasn't a problem, but something to consider, as now the garage door must be opened from the inside.

-Brad

 

[toms73novass]

good point on the handle, luckily I do not have one. (also lucky never had to use it either!)

 

[bobs409]

Hey guys,


I unfortunately have a Wayne-Dalton torquedrive system, from what I understand they can not be converted to high lift because there are no special drums for the ends... so,,
I would have to convert to standard torsion bar & springs and support plates, with high lift pulleys on end and new cables for the extra length.

Tom

Tom, first off, I'm sorry to invade your post but I am in a bit of a similar bind as you. I just bought (2) 9X7 Wayne Dalton doors and need one door to go up about 18" higher and then follow my 5/12 pitched roof to clear a "future" 4 post lift. I found Clopay makes such track but after reading your post, it sounds like I may not be able to do this??

I was wondering what you mean't when you said you have a torquedrive system and mentioned converting to standard torsion bar/springs. Can you or anyone explain the difference between the two? I believe mine have what is called a torsion bar (spring is wound inside of a steel tube). Does that sound right?

I'm frantically trying to figure out if I can do what I need to with these doors. I'm a garage door "virgin" so don't know anything about these.

Cost is a big factor so I want to do purchase/install myself. Having it done by a pro isn't an option.

If I can't use this setup, can anyone explain exactly why not so I know what to look for to get the correct doors?

Thanks for any help,


Bob

 

[nova65ss]

WD has aspring system called a Torquemaster or TMS that has a spring inside of a tube. They are the only ones that make such a system, every other door manufacturer uses a torsion system it has been around for 60-70 years. I will leave out my opinion on WD products.

The TMS system will not work with high lift track mainly because the drum that the cables roll up on do not taper which helps with the balancing of a door that goes up instead of back.

You can make the WD doors high lift but it will cost you more than buying doors that already have it. When we have a cust that needs high lift we make the tracks and engineer everything for it. You will be better off calling a door company for this and less expensive if you haven't installed the doors already

Jimmy

 

[toms73novass]

Well I am finding out that WD is not the way to go if you want to do any type of high lift! When I do my additional 2 car garage I am NOT going with WD because of the TDS. Overall i have been very satisfied with the door, but now that I am deviating from a standard configuration, it is not flexible in its design.

 

[bobs409]

Thanks alot guys. It looks like I'll have to take these back then.

Before I buy any others, does the Clopay roofline/high lift track work with all other brand of doors or must I use Clopay doors too? I hate to go through this again.


Bob

 

[nova65ss]

When you buy a door buy it with the high lift track. All manufacturers make high lift track clopay is not the only one. Track is track it is all universal.

 

[toms73novass]

Would anyone know the weight of a Wayne Dalton 9100 series door that is 16x7, no windows. ? could not find the info on WD web site.

I am trying to determine what size springs I would need. I plan on using 1 left and 1 right winding spring.

Thanks
Tom

 

[nova65ss]

Would anyone know the weight of a Wayne Dalton 9100 series door that is 16x7, no windows. ? could not find the info on WD web site.

I am trying to determine what size springs I would need. I plan on using 1 left and 1 right winding spring.

Thanks
Tom

Should be right around 140-150 pounds depending on wether or not it has a strut on the top section. Is it a Foamcore II?

 

[toms73novass]

Should be right around 140-150 pounds depending on wether or not it has a strut on the top section. Is it a Foamcore II?

I actually found my original reciept and it is a thermoguard II.

It has struts built into the design no extra metal struts, just a reinforced area about 5 feet long on top built in strut.

 

[bobs409]

When you buy a door buy it with the high lift track. All manufacturers make high lift track clopay is not the only one. Track is track it is all universal.

Thanks for the info. Glad to hear track is standard anyway. Will do some checking locally today for a different brand. I need the high lift and follow the roofline track so am keeping my fingers crossed on that.


Bob

 

[nova65ss]

I actually found my original reciept and it is a thermoguard II.

It has struts built into the design no extra metal struts, just a reinforced area about 5 feet long on top built in strut.

The Thermoguard is the same as the Foamcore it should weigh in right at 150 lbs. Give or take 10 lbs.

 

[Ed and Sandra]

Thanks for the info. Glad to hear track is standard anyway. Will do some checking locally today for a different brand. I need the high lift and follow the roofline track so am keeping my fingers crossed on that.


Bob

Maybe we're missing something or not understanding something in this thread because we're not garage door experts by any stretch of the imagination, but have you folk considered the type high lift conversion we did http://edsandra.com/esgeneral/Garage1.htm ?

The Zap door units, of which we have three, are fabulous and based on our personal experience we can't recommend them enough.

Best regards,
Ed and Sandra