Garage Door Springs Ready to Break?

Poconoeagle wrote:thats what they make bathroom scales for!!!!

Well yes, but riddle me this, Batman: The only way I can check it with scales is to raise it, remove the springs, and lower it. How can I lower it, at 200 pounds plus or minus, without it killing me or destroying itself when it falls?

the fight is more better if it goes zero to 3hun.....

DON'T try to lower the door, once you disconnect the springs. Leave the door up, until the new springs are in place. 220 - 240lbs is a good starting point for all-wood doors 7 x 8 with one row of windows.

I was up in central Maine this weekend and noticed a Contest winner from the Lewiston area in the 'North American Wife Carrying Contest'. This is NOT a joke, and as I was reading the article, a distinguished gentleman looking over my shoulder said: guess they didn't have any contestants from Orrington, did they?? I acknowledged that appeared to be true, but suggested that he might be found on a ice floe up near sterlingman if that comment left the building we were in. He allowed as that certainly could happen, however he thought there would be no need for the wife to wait that long, and left the building fearing he had eaten his last meal. Sooooo Bob, if you find a well dressed man who appears to have been bludgened, perhaps I can recognize him before the bloating takes place.

I would suggest that you install a 2 by 4 to wedge the door on each side before the springs are released. Saves the back and more valuable skin. ...and makes visitors think you really know what you are doing!

rberq wrote:

Poconoeagle wrote:thats what they make bathroom scales for!!!!

Well yes, but riddle me this, Batman: The only way I can check it with scales is to raise it, remove the springs, and lower it. How can I lower it, at 200 pounds plus or minus, without it killing me or destroying itself when it falls?

Boy wonder can do ANY thing!!! if his leotards are tight enough!!

Actually I had thought about putting the scale right near the door, lift it up 3" ? and use the ole slideing scale method with the other Bat-foot!! then Pounce the door down

no actually the reading will atleast give you a number...

If you look close to the spring , it should have some paint on the end. That will tell you the size. Switch the springs (both) with the door up. Put Vise Gripes tight to the track to stop the door from coming down. Then install a safety cable. They sell it as a kit.

I just replaced an old heavy wood door with a metal door, 9'x7'. That wooden one was heavy, but I could lift it without the springs. Had windows 3/4 the way up.

I bought mine at Home Depot. I DO NOT recommend this route for those looking to replace or upgrade. They charged me $550 delivery included which I thought was a good deal, until I read the receipt from the door co. that delivered it: $222!!! I complained to HD, but basically said take a hike. So I did ....... straight to Lowe's & I've never been happier!

While installing the new one, one of the cables let go (I didn't have it looped correctly) & fired the spring like a missle. I was about 10 feet away, but luckily adjusting the other spring ... so out of the line of fire!! What a sound that made! I think the neighbors heard me yell WTF at the top of my lungs from inside!

Yeah, I don't recommend getting it from HomeDepot either. Although thats where I got my first door, Coplay, I have to get my second door there so they match.

whistlenut wrote:I would suggest that you install a 2 by 4 to wedge the door

ken wrote:If you look close to the spring , it should have some paint on the end. That will tell you the size.Put Vise Gripes tight to the track to stop the door from coming down. Then install a safety cable.

I used a 2 by 4 AND the vise grips. No paint on the old springs, but trial-and-error got me to the blue-coded springs which Lowe's labels as 140 pounds. That was the heaviest they had, and they seem to have the same tension as the old springs. The old ones were really not strong enough, but there are adjustment holes where the cable attaches so I was able to stretch the new ones an extra six inches which improved things. And finally for the first time ever I have safety cables.

Thanks for all the helpful responses.

DVC500 at last wrote:Yeah, I don't recommend getting it from HomeDepot either. Although thats where I got my first door, Coplay, I have to get my second door there so they match.

So I'm not the only one who got burned! Same brand too! I'll see you at Lowe's!



Yeah those safety cables are a good thing. Springs flying at the speed of sound will do a number on your paint job! That makes for a bad morning!

Glad you got it repaired. Don't forget to oil all the hinges and rollers. Should oil your door every fall with 90w gear lube. Also if you have a sears opener or like one. Oil the rail and put some white grease on the plastic gears inside the unit. Torsion springs are the way to go. Stay away from Wayne Daltons new spring in the tube. Dalton does make some nice doors though. Just when you get one , step the springs up to a higher cycle and 10 roller bearing rollers. Keep it lubed every year the door will last forever, almost.

ken wrote:Glad you got it repaired. Don't forget to oil all the hinges and rollers. Should oil your door every fall with 90w gear lube. Also if you have a sears opener or like one. Oil the rail and put some white grease on the plastic gears inside the unit. Torsion springs are the way to go. Stay away from Wayne Daltons new spring in the tube. Dalton does make some nice doors though. Just when you get one , step the springs up to a higher cycle and 10 roller bearing rollers. Keep it lubed every year the door will last forever, almost.

Hmmmm, my instructions for my Coplay say NOT to oil the rail, it will drip down on your car, or something.

The rail on the opener , not the door. Lube it up and wipe the left over off with a rag. The reason you use 90w gear lube is less dripping and it stays on the door. You could use clear silacon too. Coplay doors are junk.

When I assembled my door, I sprayed each roller with synthetic spray grease. It used to quiet down the old door quite a bit. Same with the screw-drive on the Genie. I also dipped the springs in used motor oil & wiped up the excess. Gets pretty humid up here, so they tend to rust & bust.

ken wrote:........Coplay doors are junk.

I sort of figured, coming from Home Depot. Very thin thin metal with styrofoam in between. They're just a glorified Wal-Mart...cheap chinese junk!