Torsion spring

[headwrench]

One of my torsion springs broke on my overhead door. I cant buy them @ the big box stores... Insurance reasons they say. My question is, can i change the springs to extended springs? I really dont want to have a door campany come in to do the torsion spring replacement for
The $ reasons. They want $200 -$250 for the job. It would seem going old school would work. Just want opinions. Thanks

 

[BillK]

hw,
I would think that by the time you buy everything to convert them over to the extension springs you will probably spend just as much as paying the guys to come and replace your current springs. I am sure you can buy the torsion springs, you just are not looking in the right places. I bought mine from a local garage door company. They were a piece of cake to replace. This guys web site has all the info you need:

http://ddmgaragedoors.com/diy-instructions/replace-garage-door-torsion-springs.php

 

[Steevo]

Most Menards stores carry a full line of torsion springs and hardware.
You can also order them online from a lot of places.
I have replaced quite a few of them.

 

[srmofo]

Buy them online or at a local garage door dealer.

Fwiw home Depot does carry some springs. Not sure if they have your size though.
Example http://m.homedepot.com/p/Prime-Line...-243-x-2-in-x-32-in-Yellow-GD-12232/202633646

 

[koditten]

Menard's has the parts, but they will need the weight of the door. You can weigh it with bathroom scales.

With that said, the cost of having a pro do it will only be slightly higher. I can change my own springs with no problem, but I still let the professionals do the job. It will take me all afternoon, it will take a pro 30 minutes. The extra hundred bucks it cost to let someone else do the job is money well spent. I couldn't write the check fast enough to have my afternoon to myself.

Do yourself a favor, make the call. It really is worth it.

 

[Radio Flyer]

I bought mine through

DDMgaragedoors.com.

They are somewhat local to me, so I picked them up.

 

[upndown]

Converting from torsion spring to extension springs to save a few dollars will be the biggest mistake to your garage you will ever make!! Period. Damned things should be outlawed!

 

[xyster101]

I installed my own garage door and torsion springs. Never again. Took me 2 days to get it and winding the springs was scary.

Posted by my Galaxy S3. Sorry for typos

 

[unslow1]

Converting from torsion spring to extension springs to save a few dollars will be the biggest mistake to your garage you will ever make!! Period. Damned things should be outlawed!

They leave really neat holes when they break. My sister will be drywalling her garage again.

 

[upndown]

Many years ago I had a service ticket to do a spring conversion on a beautiful old brick home on Chicagos North Shore. Pulled in the driveway and noticed a whole bunch of bricks stacked at the corner of the garage. Extension spring broke on a big ***, solid wood RP door. Took out 3 or 4 studs and blew out a bunch of bricks. Messed that garage up! Had to call for help as I couldn't even budge the door. Fortunately the HO nor their vehicles were home at the time!

Even the lighter spring on these newer cheap **** doors will do some serious damage!

 

[MushCreek]

My extension springs have a cable threaded through them to prevent them from flying around. I think it's code now.

I put in a new door at my old house in FL. The torsion springs had a gear box that you connected a drill motor to to wind up the springs- simple and safe. I don't know what they cost, though, they came with the door.

 

[ilovevocs]

The torsion springs really are simple to replace if you use the right technique when winding them. Get some .5" round bar and mark the ends with electrical tape. Lots of you tube videos that cover it thoroughly. Use your head, its not a drinking project. The simplest thing to do with the springs is to measure them and call a local garage door company. Again lots of information on the web on how to measure the springs.

 

[chops101]

Order / replace torsion springs by the same spring(s) you are replacing; number of turns and gauge of turns. Replace both new at the same time. Easy to do if you can generally fix things.

 

[icenfire01]

My extension springs have a cable threaded through them to prevent them from flying around. I think it's code now.

I put in a new door at my old house in FL. The torsion springs had a gear box that you connected a drill motor to to wind up the springs- simple and safe. I don't know what they cost, though, they came with the door.

X 1000! I have these (ez wind is the commercial name I believe??). Could not be easier to wind these springs. I am not joking when I say it take 3 min to set these. I actually adjusted mine the other day cus I thought its was too light. 1\2 socket in the drill 30 seconds later and I have it perfect.

 

[upndown]

My extension springs have a cable threaded through them to prevent them from flying around. I think it's code now.

Code doesn't mean **** in the hands of DIY'ers! They still have to be installed and correctly. I would bet good money many of the safety cables either get tossed or used on different projects.

Sensors on garage door openers are Federal Law! Yet look at how many threads have been started by guys still wasting time trying to bypass that safety feature, and the ingenious ideas they come up with! Tape em together and mount em on the ceiling. How many kids walk on the ceiling? Genius..

 

[senlow]

Don't screw around with extension springs. Buy torsion springs from DDMgaragedoors.com. They are a top notch vendor. They will even help you choose a spring with a longer fatigue life.

 

[mikegt4]

When my son's torsion spring broke a few years ago I just took the broken one to the Overhead Door Co. local franchise and they matched it up with a new one for $50.

Check around for the prices that door companies charge for an install, there usually a wide range of prices (at least when my son's broke, national companies= high, Ma and Pa = cheaper).

 

[PFSard]

I put in a new door at my old house in FL. The torsion springs had a gear box that you connected a drill motor to to wind up the springs- simple and safe. I don't know what they cost, though, they came with the door.

Anybody have a link to these???

 

[raceman6135]

Anybody have a link to these???

Looks like Menards in the USA carries them:

https://www.menards.com/main/doors-windows/exterior-doors/garage-doors/garage-door-parts-accessories/ideal-door-ez-set-reg-reg-torsion-spring-conversion-kit-from-extension-springs/p-1312969.htm

 

[MikeF2316]

I installed mine, piece of cake. I just used some 3/8 drive extensions as the winding rods.

 

[icenfire01]

Anybody have a link to these???

Looks like Menards in the USA carries them:

https://www.menards.com/main/doors-windows/exterior-doors/garage-doors/garage-door-parts-accessories/ideal-door-ez-set-reg-reg-torsion-spring-conversion-kit-from-extension-springs/p-1312969.htm

Yes, Menards is where I got mine.