Adjusting Torsion Spring on Garage Door
#1
06-08-10, 01:37 PM
Adjusting Torsion Spring on Garage Door
I have a metal garage door with dual overhead torsion springs. I noticed recently that one side has "slipped" and there is about a one inch gap on that side when the door is closed. I would like to try to adjust this myself if possible.
Can I tighten the spring on that side (with an 18" rod) to pull that side of the door up one inch, or is the repair more complicated than this? I assume that after I tighten it, I should have a one inch gap along the whole bottom-length of the door and then I can just adjust the opener to correct for that.
Thank you!
Can I tighten the spring on that side (with an 18" rod) to pull that side of the door up one inch, or is the repair more complicated than this? I assume that after I tighten it, I should have a one inch gap along the whole bottom-length of the door and then I can just adjust the opener to correct for that.
Thank you!
#2
06-08-10, 02:45 PM
Group Moderator
Installing and tightening torsion springs is pretty straight forward but the likelihood of injury if you screw up is pretty high, we hire out this kind of work
#3
06-08-10, 03:16 PM
What mitch said, if all goes well, no problem. One moment of attention lapse can maim or kill. Before you consider that, disconnect the opener from the door. Operate in manual up/down. There should be about equal force required for up/down travel, and the door should stay at mid travel if you let it go. If it drops, spring tension needs adjusting. Also check that both sides are free in the full up/down travel, no binding. One side lower could be spring tension, or binding in the track or hinges, lubricate everything.
#4
06-08-10, 08:50 PM
I checked the open/close mechanism and it's pretty similar for up/down motion - both seem to be pretty smooth. If I open it mid-way and release it, it drops fairly quickly. There doesn't seem to be any binding or sticking on the sides, but I'll lube it just to be safe.
Taking the necessary safety precautions, it seems like the adjustment of the spring is fairly straightforward - use an 18" bar to place tension on the spring adjustment, loosen the set screws, tighten the adjustment, and then tighten the set screws. Are there any other things that I should be looking for?
Taking the necessary safety precautions, it seems like the adjustment of the spring is fairly straightforward - use an 18" bar to place tension on the spring adjustment, loosen the set screws, tighten the adjustment, and then tighten the set screws. Are there any other things that I should be looking for?
#5
06-09-10, 03:44 PM
Yep, when you release the set screws, you will be holding back a lot of spring tension. Be prepared, we warned you. Take 1/2 trun at a a time to tighten, then retry the door manually.
If the door dropped at mid travel, it defintely needs adjustment
If the door dropped at mid travel, it defintely needs adjustment
