Jim Katen Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 So, what's going on here? Why does the torsion spring look like Wilbur the Wiggly Worm? Is this a problem? Click to Enlarge 46.23 KB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Fabry Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 It may be too small a spring that's been over-wound to compensate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted November 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 It may be too small a spring that's been over-wound to compensate. I considered that, but the doors are about as light as a garage door can get. I think they're made from tin foil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 It's way over wound. The norm is one full turn for each foot of height, plus a quarter turn to keep tension on the cables when the door is open. That's gotta be closer to 3 or 4 turns per foot. In that condition it is exerting lateral forces on the three bearings and the drums that the hardware was not designed to withstand, and it's obviously shortening the service life of the spring. If there is an opener connected it is being over worked as well, with potential to damage the gear kit and drive chain. I'd expect a service call and new spring to start at about $200, but it could be lots more. Someone has been 'fixing' things they don't understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted November 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 It's way over wound. The norm is one full turn for each foot of height, plus a quarter turn to keep tension on the cables when the door is open. That's gotta be closer to 3 or 4 turns per foot. In that condition it is exerting lateral forces on the three bearings and the drums that the hardware was not designed to withstand, and it's obviously shortening the service life of the spring. If there is an opener connected it is being over worked as well, with potential to damage the gear kit and drive chain. I'd expect a service call and new spring to start at about $200, but it could be lots more. Someone has been 'fixing' things they don't understand. Thanks. Makes sense. The doors were brand spanking new. I understand that the seller's father is a contractor. I suspect that he installed these his-self. . . . along with the brand new tile shower pan that leaks like a sieve and the brand new deck roof that he hung off of a fascia board . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Simon Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 But when ya checked the door for balance, wouldn't it shoot up like a rocket if the springs were that much over-wound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Moore Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 ... If there is an opener connected it is being over worked as well, with potential to damage the gear kit and drive chain. ... Wouldn't it be called a "closer" in this case. I imagine the doors are self opening. [] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted November 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 No, actually they were very difficult to open and to close, though they'd stay put at any point in their travel. I suspect that there's a friction or binding problem going on in addition to the overwould springs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allseason Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 If there is a problem with the door binding that explains the overwound spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted November 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2011 If there is a problem with the door binding that explains the overwound spring. Good thought. I'm not sure which came first in this case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted December 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 OK, it seems that the springs were wound backwards - the installer was twisting them in the wrong direction to "tighten" them - and, yes, the seller's father (a licensed contractor) installed them. They called a real garage door installer to fix them and, what do you know, at the reinspection I could raise & lower each of the doors with one finger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Fabry Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 OK, it seems that the springs were wound backwards - the installer was twisting them in the wrong direction to "tighten" them - and, yes, the seller's father (a licensed contractor) installed them. They called a real garage door installer to fix them and, what do you know, at the reinspection I could raise & lower each of the doors with one finger. Duh-that would explain the spaces between the coils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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