I put on new springs cause one broke When the Garage Door is in the shut positon it has alot of tension on it and wants shoot up but when you get it to fully open the cables come really loose and come off drum? What's wrong? I've made sure the cables were the same tension....the springs had alot of tension in the closed door position and wanted to shoot open then when it.got open the spring would have no tension and the.cable would come.off drum?
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Problems with new garage springs
- Thread starter JesseK123
- Start date
housewolf
Well-known member
Maybe the wrong size spring?
firebirdparts
Well-known member
Too short/too stiff (which is the same thing, kinda).
I brought the broken spring with and matched it up.Maybe the wrong size spring?
FredWanaker
Well-known member
is this a solid bar with two coil springs in the center, or are the springs outnear the edges and they extend as they open and close the door?
Jacko264
Well-known member
Photos of the springs and cables and workings would be good
kbuhagiar
Well-known member
How? Visually?I brought the broken spring with and matched it up.
Two identical-appearing springs may have vastly different load ratings.
Fav Onefour
Well-known member
Dang right.How? Visually?
Two identical-appearing springs may have vastly different load ratings.
@JesseK123 , I'm not real clear on your initial description.
Do you mean the old springs had this issue as well?.the springs had alot of tension in the closed door position and wanted to shoot open then when it.got open
There is a bit of science behind the springs but it's not too complicated. The general rule is to size the spring and drums for the door weight and height. With the proper assembly and adjustment, the door should be relatively easy to move by hand through the range of travel. The cables would have some tension throughout.
It's a long shot, but what position was the door when you tensioned the springs? It's possible to create spring bind if the door is open. It doesn't really sound like the issue if the door actually closes, but it's worth asking.
vavet
Well-known member
It sounds like these are extension springs rather than a torsion spring.
IIRC, there are color codes on the extension springs. They should be the same on each side. You should probably replace them in pairs. If one failed, it stands to reason the other will fail soon as they see the same number of cycles.
I'm sure you can find far better advice than I can give, but I'll give it a shot: The door should be able to close, but it should be fairly light if you're trying to open it by hand. The springs are there to help offset some of the weight of the door so you (or your garage door opener) are not trying to lift the entire mass.
IIRC, there are color codes on the extension springs. They should be the same on each side. You should probably replace them in pairs. If one failed, it stands to reason the other will fail soon as they see the same number of cycles.
I'm sure you can find far better advice than I can give, but I'll give it a shot: The door should be able to close, but it should be fairly light if you're trying to open it by hand. The springs are there to help offset some of the weight of the door so you (or your garage door opener) are not trying to lift the entire mass.
Fav Onefour
Well-known member
I didn't even consider them being extension style. The "drum" vs. pulley term threw my in my direction on advice.
@JesseK123 , If it is extension style forget the binding aspect.
Pictures would really help.
@JesseK123 , If it is extension style forget the binding aspect.
Pictures would really help.
housewolf
Well-known member
It was a gazillion years ago but I had a short break in my plumbing career that I installed OH garage doors. A lot of the springs appear identical except for a little dab of white, green, red, blue, etc… paint on one end of them. I remember enough about them to not fool with them today. Service calls on garage doors, around here anyway, are usually very reasonableI brought the broken spring with and matched it up.
Jacko264
Well-known member
This is why I asked for photos. There are so many different types of garage doors
beemerphile
Well-known member
All of which can send an uninformed tinkerer to the E.R. It is a lot of stored energy if immediately released.This is why I asked for photos. There are so many different types of garage doors
Buckaroo5
Well-known member
This website is very informative about all the different types of garage door springs and how to select the correct ones. I bought two custom made torsion springs from them recently.
Install very straight forward.....great video covers what you need to know.
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
Install very straight forward.....great video covers what you need to know.
Zeke
Well-known member
The phrase "wants to shoot up" is vague at best. But even someone with poor description skills is telling me that these aren't torsion springs. I have seen a cable and extension set up when other garage door hard ware would be poking out into the middle of the garage space, like on twin single doors, or a double and single sharing a 2' section of front wall. These are old devices and I'd replace them entirely. Seems safer in the long run.It sounds like these are extension springs rather than a torsion spring.
IIRC, there are color codes on the extension springs. They should be the same on each side. You should probably replace them in pairs. If one failed, it stands to reason the other will fail soon as they see the same number of cycles.
I'm sure you can find far better advice than I can give, but I'll give it a shot: The door should be able to close, but it should be fairly light if you're trying to open it by hand. The springs are there to help offset some of the weight of the door so you (or your garage door opener) are not trying to lift the entire mass.
Yes, always do springs in pairs or quads if that's what is there.
Last edited:
firebirdparts
Well-known member
Honestly, it wouldn't make any difference. the springs are too stiff, and so the force is changing much faster than the force required to do the job. Raise the door, force too weak. Close the door, force too strong.
Springs all act like springs.
Springs all act like springs.
wire diameter of the spring makes a huge difference. The length makes a huge difference. Any deviation from either will drastically change the spring rate. there is a company called ssc that wil give you all the info you need to get the correct spring. they have an app that works you through the process.
Zeke
Well-known member
Could be handy setting up a car suspension.wire diameter of the spring makes a huge difference. The length makes a huge difference. Any deviation from either will drastically change the spring rate. there is a company called ssc that wil give you all the info you need to get the correct spring. they have an app that works you through the process.