Installing Garage Door Springs

Installing Garage Door Torsion Springs

WARNING:  Read all instructions before beginning. Wear safety goggles. Unplug door opener and remove opener traveler arm from garage door FIRST. Do not remove more than one part at a time or operate door without all components installed and securely tightened. This hardware is for residential garage doors only. Extension/torsion springs, with attached hardware are under extreme tension at all times. All tension must be released from torsion springs before working on the torsion springs, garage door sections, or garage door hardware. If you do not completely understand the installation instructions or are unsure whether the replacement garage door part matches the garage door part to be replaced, contact us at 800.997.7606

Supplemental Instructions for Extended Height Doors

Torsion Springs:

Parts List:

5'-7’ step ladder

Torsion Tube (1” outside diameter 17’ long based on 16’ wide door)

Pair of Cables (Aircraft Grade)

Pair of Cable Drums (4” Diameter to accomadate up to 8’ High)

Center Mounting Bracket

Bearings or Nylon Bushings

1/2”, 7/16”, 9/16”, Pair of locking pliers, safety goggles, gloves etc.

It is advised to call us at 800.997.7606 and let one of our garage door torsion spring techs match the right spring for your garage door.  Ask us about our LIFETIME HIGH CYCLE Torsion Springs?

Pair of 18” winding bars for adjusting tension on springs Door is installed, track is square? Double check track at this point to make sure all points are tight. Also make sure horizontal sections are square and ends are level with eachother.

Ok you checked the track and everything is good, tight and square.

Garage Door Parts

Remove one of the End Bearing Plates. (see picture below)

Remove old Torsion Springs from one end of Torsion tube by removing the End Bearing plate or EBP from the track. You can slide both springs off at this time. Check torsion tube to make sure it's not squashed from being over-tightened from the previous install. If so, you may have to purchase a new tube 1" outside diameter with similiar gauge wall. You can find this tube at you local Home Depot, Lowes or construction supply store in your area.

From the side you removed the End Bearing Plate.

Slide one cable drum on your torsion tube ( Right drum is painted Black and Left is painted Red) Install in this order just as you are from the inside of garage looking out. Red Drum, Red Torsion spring, Black Torsion Spring, Black Drum. Make sure set screws on drums are facing inward towards center and torsion set screws are facing outward towards the cable drums. Don't set any screws at this point. Double check this step.

Red or Left Wind Cable Drum mounted on LEFT SIDE of Torsion tube. (From inside your garage door)

Check the Center Anchor Bracket or Center Bearing Plate to make sure it's secured firm against the garage door header. This mount holds all the weight and tension from the garage door torsion springs. It should have 4 lag bolts mounted to solid wood before you continue to next step.

Mount your Garage Door Torsion Spring(s) to the Center Bracket or Center Bearing Plate.

It is recomemended to use steel bearings at this mount to help relieve the load of the garage door torision springs.

Tighten them really good with locking washers if possible.

Ok, If you were planning to change out Garage Door Cables and Garage Door Rollers then this is a great time for that.

Side Note:

(Before Cable Keepers were available we use to improvise and create our own spring tension at the bottom bracket.)

Place a large screw driver through the open eyelet of one of your garage door cables. Slide the eyelet all the way down to the base of the screwdriver. Hold the cable tight (wear gloves so you don't cut yourself) with one hand or thumb and tightly wrap the cable around the screwdriver about 5 revolutions with the other hand. Hold this tight for about 30 seconds. Then release.

Repeat process with other garage door cable. This will make a pig tail or spring-like action to the end of the cable. This will prevent the cable from gaining slack at the cable drum. You can also use cable keepers which we now have available.

Run the cables all the way up to the garage door cable drums. 

 

Garage Door Cables should be between the Garage Door Rollers and the house or framing.

(Double check this step to make sure the garage door cable is free of obstruction.)

 

Slide cable stop (small cyclinder end)  securely into garage door cable drum. 

(notice the garage door cable will naturally run in the grooves of the garage door cable drum)   You will need to check this again later before we set the tension.  At this point we will tighten this drum.  Make sure you have equal distance of torsion tube extending out the side of your end bearing plates.  Split the ends equally if possible. (6” on each end)  Some Garages are real tight on one side and prevent this. 

 

</div>

Tags: garage door spring installation, garage door spring video