How to Install a Spring to a Garage Door
The coil springs of your garage door are a key part of its assembly, especially if you have an automatic door opener. If the springs are not installed properly, the opener will have to exert more force to raise the weight of the door, which can damage the garage door opener and the tracks that hold the door. Over time springs can stretch out and lose tension, so you may need to replace them with new ones. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Lock the garage door in the down position so it does not pop up while you are adjusting the tension in the springs.
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Slide the coil springs onto the bar that runs along the center of the garage door. Align them so that the red one is on the left side of the garage door and the black one is on the right. Slide one cable drum onto each end of the bar. Lock the cable drums in place by tightening the set screws. Position the springs in the center of the bar, and tighten the retention bolts in the center cone.
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3
Insert the end of a turning bar into the hole at the end of one of the coil springs. Pull the bar up until it turns one-quarter of a revolution. Check your garage door's instruction manual to find the recommended tension. A general guideline is one revolution for each foot of the garage door's length. Move to the other spring, and repeat this process until the tension in both springs is equal.
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Unlock the garage door, and test the tension by slowly opening and closing it by hand. The door should move freely, but stay under control. Use the turning bar to adjust the tension if you are not satisfied with the way the door moves.
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Tips & Warnings
The turning bar is subject to a lot of tension as you rotate it to adjust the springs. Do not let up on the bar while it is under tension or it may snap back and hit you.
References
- Photo Credit red garage door image by green308 from Fotolia.com
