Broken spring on the door?
Learn How to Install Single Torsion Spring On Garage Door Without Any Hassle
(And save 200-300$ easily)
The garage door spring is something we never care about usually.
Am I right?
But if it got broken somehow!!!!!
This tiny stuff can make your life a nightmare…….
So true! The irony is……..
Torsion springs are usually dangerous if they are mishandled or improperly installed. And if you’re thinking of hiring a professional, prepare to pay 200-300$ for these 10 minutes. You heard that right.
People have been maimed, and some even lost their lives trying to repair their garage door springs.
When extended, torsion springs are stretched to a possible deadly force. Remember that these springs lift more than a 150-kilogram door, so you need to be extra careful when fixing your garage door springs.
But the good news is….. Replacing a garage door spring is easier than you think!
Think I’m exaggerating?
Not at all, dear. I’ll walk you through the whole process of how to install single torsion spring on garage door (even if it’s your first time).
Ready? Let’s get this show on the road.
How to Install Single Torsion Spring on Garage Door
But first thing first………
I should share some important safety tips to ensure that you undertake this procedure( without ending up in an emergency room)
Do not try to install the torsion springs yourself unless you have the right mechanical experience and tools. Also, don’t forget to read the garage door spring installation instructions first.
What you need for this job:
- Wood anchor pad.
- A pair of 9/16 inch box wrenches.
- 7/16 inch socket wrench.
- Locking pliers.
- A pair of ½ inch diameter, 18 inches cold-rolled solid steel winding bars.
Now let’s jump to the main process of how to install garage door springs and cables.
Step #1: Prep the door frame
It is important that the wood anchor pad is made from southern yellow pine (Alias yellow pine or southern pine) or Grade 2.
But you can also use types of woods like birch, beech, oak, and hickory, provided they are free of any cracks and splits.
With that in mind, avoid woods labeled as SPF (spruce pine fir).
The anchor pad and each side jamb should stretch 12 inches above the top of the opening for a 12-inch radius horizontal track as well as 15 inches above the top of the opening for 15 inches radius horizontal track.
Attach the wood anchor to the garage frame with four or more if need be, 3/8 inch x 4 inches long lag screws for wooden frames or four 3/8 inches x 4 inches long sleeve anchors for concrete.
How many turns on a single spring garage door?
The four screws must be installed at least 1 ½ cinches from the sides and the end of the anchor pad. They must also be fixed into the garage frame and not the sheetrock or drywall. Wondering how to balance a garage door with a torsion spring? The procedure is the same.
Note: Do not use nails in place of the screws, and it is ok for the wood anchor pad to be off-center to the opening width by at most 10 inches in either direction.
Caution: Make sure that the torsion spring assembly is firmly and securely affixed to the garage door frame.
Step #2: Lump together the torsion springs to the spring tube
Another point to note, make sure the tools you need, you and your assistant, are inside the garage before you close the door.
Come to the main point- how to set torsion spring on the garage door.
The garage door should have one or two torsion springs, with each spring consisting of spring coils, a winding cone, and a stationary cone. Luckily, the spring coils are all color-coded based on spring size, while the winding cone is also color-coded separately, black or red. The winding cone color helps you establish on which side of the garage door the spring is used.
But just to make sure you are on the right side, red winding cone torsion springs should be used on the left side of the garage door, while black winding cone torsion springs should be used on the right side of the garage door from inside facing out.
Note that failure to correctly install the torsion springs will cause the door to malfunction and could cause severe injury.
Also, if your garage has low headroom, consider consulting supplemental low headroom instructions since these instructions will not be of great use to you.
Slide the torsion springs onto the designated spring tube, with the red winding cone going to the left end and the back winding cone going to the right end.
Next, install cable drums, which are also color-coded. The black drum goes on the right while the red drum goes on the left. The set bolts on the drums should face the springs. Can a garage door work with one spring? Well, it depends.
Caution: Lock the garage door in the down position using locking pliers or door locks to stop the door from opening prematurely during repair, which could cause some serious injury.
Step #3: Fasten mounting plates to the door frame
The next step is attaching the mounting plates to the door frame of your garage. Affix the bottom end of the bearing plate to the horizontal angle using 3/8 inches x ¾ inches long hex head screws and hex bolts.
You can identify the bottom of the end bearing plate by checking the two parallel rows of two slots, and thus, ensure you use the bottom two slots for 12 inches radius horizontal track and the higher two slots for 15 inches radius horizontal track.
Check the figure below for a clear image of a properly mounted torsion tube.
Step #4: Attach the complete torsion springs onto the mounting plates
This is where your assistant will come in handy. Lift together with your assistant the assembled torsion springs and slip the ends of the tube onto the bearing on the end of the mounting plates.
Which way do you wind a garage door torsion spring?
Attach the center bearing plate to the center anchor pad with (2) 5/16 inches x 1-5/8 inches long lag, red-colored screws.
Step #5: Mount torsion spring cables
Next, bring the spring cables attached to the bottom brackets up between the roller shafts and the wall to the cable drum. Place the cable in the notch on the cable drum.
Ensure that the cable follows the channels in the cable drum.
Also, make sure you tighten the set screws on the cable drum using a 3/8 box wrench whilst holding the cable taut.
By clamping locking pliers to the torsion spring tube, you will maintain the tension on the cable.
Step #6: Test the garage door
Last but not least, carefully unlock the door and raise it and prop halfway open.
Note that since you are opening the door for the first time since repairing, caution must be observed since the door may fall due to some mechanical issues.
Hope our guide helps you to learn how to install single torsion spring on garage door. I believe that you have done the installation without any hassle.
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