Home repair gurus: Garage door broke

[rudeguy]

Symptom: Garage door won't go more than 1/8 the way up
Problem: Wire that supports right side of door snapped
Solution: Repair/replace support wire.


How do I replace the support wire that runs from the top of the door (I believe its attached to the spring)?

Pics:

broken wire:

Spindle that wire winds into:

 

[BTA]

I'd probably just have a garage door company come and fix it. Can't be that much $$.

I had the spring replaced on mine once and it was like $130, this would probably be half that.

Otherwise I imagine you can get another wire and the crimps at a home depot or lowes. or you might even be able to get a garage door company to sell you one.

 

[dank69]

Remove old wire
Buy new wire of same length
Put new wire on using the other side as a guide
Hook spring to new wire
Get bonus sex from wife

 

[rudeguy]

Remove old wire
Buy new wire of same length
Put new wire on using the other side as a guide
Hook spring to new wire
Get bonus sex from wife

I'm single.

My concern is the tension on the spring. I don't have anything to relieve the tension.

 

[boomerang]

Sent you a PM rudeguy.

 

[dank69]

I'm single.

...

Well then you should have plenty of money to hire 'the guy'
Seriously though, when the spring broke on mine I was able to 'help' the door open and then just replace the spring. I would think you'd be able to do that and once the door is open there shouldn't be much tension left in the spring.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I don't have anything to relieve the tension.

Are you right handed or left handed?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I've heard that these types of springs are no joke to mess around with. I've had no problems with the old style long tubular ones, but I'd pay someone to change out that type.

 

[etrigan420]

I'm not a "pro", but my understanding is that you do *not* want to fuck with garage door springs without the proper tools and know how.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Symptom: Garage door won't go more than 1/8 the way up
Problem: Wire that supports right side of door snapped
Solution: Repair/replace support wire.


How do I replace the support wire that runs from the top of the door (I believe its attached to the spring)?

Pics:

broken wire:

Spindle that wire winds into:

That is a torsion wound spring and dangerous to work on. Better get a pro to replace the cable and replace both.

 

[boomerang]

I'm not a "pro", but my understanding is that you do *not* want to fuck with garage door springs without the proper tools and know how.

My wife manages a garage door company and that's the advice she always gives to people that call. She's heard of too many broken fingers and severe lacerations from people messing with the torsion springs.

From a mechanical standpoint, it's actually a very simple setup and most folks with a little mechanical know-how and common sense could handle it just fine. Adjusting the springs correctly is a trial and error process and one done much more quickly by someone with experience.

 

[amdskip]

nm

 

[BoomerD]

Here's a decent video of the process with the proper safety precautions:

http://www.youdoitstore.com/How_to_Replace_Garage_Door_Cables_Video_Instructions_s/141.htm

 

[OCGuy]

I'm single.
My concern is the tension on the spring. I don't have anything to relieve the tension.

.....

 

[boomerang]

I'm certain that's a torsion spring setup and not an extension spring. The picture shows a cable reel, not a cable pulley like an extension spring door would have.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally Posted by rudeguy
I'm single.
My concern is the tension on the spring. I don't have anything to relieve the tension.

.....

:biggrin:

I'm sure he has the same girlfriend as most of ATOT...

 

[boomerang]

Most of us here have dated Miss Michigan from time-to-time.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

I'm single.

My concern is the tension on the spring. I don't have anything to relieve the tension.

Fleshlight or Shakeweight. Take your pick.

 

[spidey07]

I can do just about any home repair, but I'm not messing with the garage door. That spring can kill a man if you don't know what you're doing or have the right tools.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I had this happen once, did a bunch of research and was found the same deal. Don't screw with it. Call around, it cost me just over $100 to get it fixed in 20 minutes.

 

[MarkXIX]

Men aren't men anymore. I fixed my garage door myself after my wife took it out with the luggage racks on the SUV.

I adjusted my own springs using nothing more than a tight fitting breaker bar from the tool box, a wrench, and some common fucking sense.

The bottom line is, you have to torque the center wheel on the torsion spring so that it has just enough pressure to hold the door up on it's own. There should be a hole in which you can fit a bar that you use to tension the spring and then you lock the wheel down onto the spindle. Like someone said, it is trial and error until you get just the right tension. New door is going on 3+ years since I installed it myself with no issues.