Torsion Bar Adjustment

[50racer]

I had my garage door replaced a few months ago. I installed a shaft mount garage door opener at same time. It has operated fine. The unit itself would move a little during operation and didn't think much of it. I pulled unit off today for another reason and decided to see what caused the movement. So with it off I watched operation of the door opening by hand. The torsion bar is moving at the end where it is attached to garage door opener. I took some measurements at the ends and middle. The torsion bar is 5" off wall to centerline at both ends, but in the middle it is only 4.5'. So I am assuming that causes the movement at the ends. If this is correct there is room on center bracket to move it out 1/2". I need to know is it ok to loosen the 2 circled bolts to slide it out or is it under tension and should I call the installer to come adjust it? Thank you in advance for any responses.
View attachment 2433590

 

[Junkman]

When it comes to torsion spring garage doors, it's best to use a garage door installer for all adjustments. I learned this over 50 years ago when I was on a first aid squad in NJ. We had a call to a home where the homeowner attempted to make some adjustments, and whatever he was using or doing went awry. He had a bunch of facial injuries and a broken jaw. He also fell from the ladder and dislocated his shoulder. It wasn't a pretty sight, and after seeing that, I vowed never to deal with a torsion spring needing servicing.
I installed a Liftmaster 3500 on my existing door, but that didn't require any adjustments to the spring itself; only mounting the collar onto the tube was necessary. Better to be safe than sorry. I have learned a lot of life lessons from other people's misfortunes.

 

[Wrench97]

Yes they are under tension.

 

[mm08822]

Any red colored bolt, nut, screw colored red is under tension in some manner. DO NOT LOOSEN until you eliminate that stored energy. Since you are asking this, I suggest you call a garage door service for your own safety.

If the coupling can handle the walk of the shaft, then I would leave it alone.

 

[wssix99]

So I am assuming that causes the movement at the ends.

It could be or your bar may have been bent at the time of install. The springs should be unwound for the fix.

I would call the installer back. They should have checked all of this, either way, at the time of install. Take a video with the opener off and showing the bar wobbling. That's proof that things are a little messed up.

 

[50racer]

Thank you all for your responses. I definitely will call the installer back. I have a bunch of friends who are fireman/emt so I know about the dangers and know the garage door springs is something I wont mess with. I just wasn't sure. On the bright side i now know that the bolts are colored red to signify they are under tension.

 

[Fav Onefour]

Pipe is out of whack.
Moving the center location won't change wobble.

 

[jstroede]

Pipe is out of whack.
Moving the center location won't change wobble.

Yes it will. This is fairly thin wall hollow shaft. It is not very rigid, especially at longer lengths.

100% unwind the springs to do this.

 

[Fav Onefour]

Yes it will. This is fairly thin wall hollow shaft. It is not very rigid, especially at longer lengths.

100% unwind the springs to do this.

I get what you are saying. There is definitely merit in getting the pipe straight. I'm not sure if that will cure the wobble.
I've handled quite a few of these things over the years.
If half an inch over eight plus feet is causing wobble nobody would have a solid set. I think most people would be surprised how much sag is on those flimsy pipes. With the nature of those pipes being so flimsy, I've seen quite a few that were just simply not straight. Somewhere along the line with handling they got bent.