Torsion Spring Maintenance - ***** Springs

[wssix99]

Ever since my door install, (high lift tracks with torsion springs) my springs have had kinks in them when wound:

View media item 64622
Is this a problem?

If so, are there any ideas on how I'd resolve it? I've been running with them like this for a while to see if the stress would even out in the springs and the kings have pretty much stayed in the same place.

Would lubricating the springs help?

When the doors are up and the springs unwound; everything is straight and normal - as it was before I initially wound the springs. When I installed the springs, I stretched them out a few inches, per instructions to give them some room to expand/contract, but that didn't get rid of the kinks.

 

[pattenp]

I assume you have the springs mounted on their correct sides? Sounds like you stretched the springs too much.

See Section 10 in link below...
http://ddmgaragedoors.com/diy-instructions/replace-garage-door-torsion-springs.php

 

[wssix99]

Thanks. ^ These are pretty good instructions and call out some good "why" points behind the directions.

I think I probably did stretch them too far. DDM recommends 1/4" and my instructions say "2 coils." I think I misread them because I've been recalling that I stretched them 2". ... That would probably do it!

^ So, I'll need to get these fixed... I just tore my rotoator cuff the other week. Awesome!

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I'm not an expert but have replaced mine a couple of times.... as I recall after winding the spring you'll get some buckling (these are pretty extreme but they're also long springs)... so the video explained to hit the adjust rod toward the cable pulley to "straighten out" the spring, and then tighten the star/adjuster .....

 

[Jlbc212]

I installed/replaced lots of torsion springs years ago when i worked as an overhead door mechanic. I never stretched out a spring before or after winding it. The spring will stretch out by itself as it gets tensioned.

 

[kbs2244]

Does the door pass the balance test?
If so, I would just oil the springs and live with the look.

 

[wssix99]

Does the door pass the balance test?
If so, I would just oil the springs and live with the look.

Yea, they work fine, but.. "the look" bothers the wife.

When the kinks straighten out, the springs also make a popping noise, which is really loud and annoying - this is enough to make straightening them out worth it.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I suspect that they will always be kinked. You might try some cardboard tubes like fabric come on inside the springs to get them looking better. Also a long piece of radiator hose inside them might help also. As far as function goes it should not make a lot of difference.

 

[upndown]

2" is entirely too much stretch! You only need very little separation between the coils to prevent spring bind. Just stick a winding bar in the winding cone and loosen the set screws, the spring should return to normal. That will also eliminate any popping noise.

Another good habit to get into is when you Lube your door, put a little on your spring!

 

[kbs2244]

Oiling them will cure the popping noise.
If they are quiet she won't look at them.

 

[WVBrady]

Yea, they work fine, but.. "the look" bothers the wife. ...

A lot of wives don't like *****.

 

[dave89iroc]

A lot of wives don't like *****.

yeah, that ring changes an awful lot of things.................

 

[wssix99]

Thanks all for your advice and guidance. I'll post back when I make my adjustments.

I'll also work on the wife's preferences, but I don't expect a lot of success there. I won't push it too much either, because I get a lot of help from her. She's also personally invested in these garage doors:

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I installed/replaced lots of torsion springs years ago when i worked as an overhead door mechanic. I never stretched out a spring before or after winding it. The spring will stretch out by itself as it gets tensioned.

I yield to experience here.. I'll have to find that video and share. As I recall, the cat doing it said something (or maybe I read it) that by stretching it a bit (not a lot) it helps to keep the individual spring elements from rubbing and grinding against themselves a bit... I'll dig it up and share later..

All good stuff here..

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Here's the video I referenced.. The stretch process is about 13:20 of the 18 minutes video...

 

[MikeF]

I always give em a few decent smacks to stretch em, those are over stretched and under lubed. Spray some garage door lube pr oil on em and if it helps first.

 

[Jlbc212]

With the door down and locked and the electricity to the door opener off, place a winding bar in one of the holes of the winding cone and loosen the set screws (make sure you are comfortable on the ladder with a leg locked around one of the rungs and especially make sure you are positioned off to the side of the winding bar). While holding the winding bar in place and the set screws loosened let the spring shorten itself - there's no need to stretch it out! Try moving the winding bar up and down a bit to make sure it isn't getting caught on burrs on the shaft caused by the set screws. Retighten the set screws and remove the winding bars. Get an old paint brush or rag and LIGHTLY coat the spring coils with axle grease or motor oil.

I saw in the video the stretching of the spring. I never did that with any of the hundreds (maybe thousands) of torsion springs I installed. As the door goes up the spring is unwinding and it would like to shorten, but the set screws keep it stretched out, hence with a very light coating of lubricant on the coils there shouldn't be any binding of the coils.

One other note, there is no need to replace both springs if only one spring has broken. Often the same spring will break before the other one breaks.

 

[larry_g]

I would have to ask did the springs get spec'ed for a highlift door? Did you buy that all as a package or was it modified for the ability to hug the ceiling?

lg
no neat sig line

 

[James-W]

I would have to ask did the springs get spec'ed for a highlift door? Did you buy that all as a package or was it modified for the ability to hug the ceiling?

lg
no neat sig line

That was my thinking as well. It is possible the wrong springs are being used for that particular setup.

 

[wssix99]

I would have to ask did the springs get spec'ed for a highlift door? Did you buy that all as a package or was it modified for the ability to hug the ceiling?

lg
no neat sig line

That was my thinking as well. It is possible the wrong springs are being used for that particular setup.

Yes. They are the correct springs and we actually double checked them with Clopay's engineers because they sent the wrong springs to us, initially. (The tracks and springs were the wrong size, so they put a new package together for us.) The doors also balance just fine, so the springs themselves are good.

I'm pretty sure I just stretched them too far. (I read the instructions wrong and stretched 2 inches in stead of 2 "coils". Big difference.)

 

[upndown]

I'm pretty sure I just stretched them too far. (I read the instructions wrong and stretched 2 inches in stead of 2 "coils". Big difference.)[/QUOTE

with that much stretch, spring bind is not likely to happen!

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Love the GJ...tons of experience and good advice..... !!