My garage door has a Torsion Spring, the Torsion spring broke. The most common statement about torsion springs is “Don’t Fix them yourself”.
Extension springs are rated an average repair for DIYers. Sounds good, but I have 0 experience and my Google-fu has failed to find installation instructions for the pulleys and hooks, only spring replacement.
Dopers, please help me out.
Jim
Call a garage door outfit and have them replace both of the springs. If one broke, the other is about to.
It’s not feasible to change spring types without changing the rest of the mechanism. By the time you pay for all of the related parts, you may as well just have a pro do the job.
It only had one spring. A torsion spring is usually across the top for the door. They are defiantly not something for home owners to play with.
In order to put in place extension springs you may have to replace the current tracks.
Take a look at this site you should be able to figure out the basics and come back with questions if needed.
Honestly, I’d never retrofit a torsion door with extension springs-that’s akin to replacing your gas furnace with a coal stove.
Sadly, explaining how to wind a spring and set up a door using one isn’t something I’d feel comfortable doing via a message board-the stored energy in one can and will hurt you if you screw up. It’s a skill better learned by watching someone who has done it.
It’s a step above most DIY’er, and you won’t save that much money. You’ll need a light torch too from what I saw (no big deal, but still) ; they probably sell “universal fit” replacement springs and then cut to size. The springs get wound up astonishingly tight. No way would I try it w/out instruction and correct tools first.
When one lets go, it is kind of amusing, because often people have no idea at all “what the hell was THAT” noise - till they try to open their garage door. Can be an issue for the elderly. The door can be manually opened by un-hooking the motor drive from the door itself - the red rope/handle
Thanks this is what I was looking for. I will not attempt a replacement of the Torsion spring, it looks like an arm breaker.
I might do as **gotpasswords ** said and just call a pro in. I am still weighing the job out.
I am not quite sure why I need to change out the tracks, it appears that the current tracks would do the job, but I would need to rig in the pulleys, safeties and extension springs.
Is there a specific reason that existing track will not work?
Jim
It will be less expensive, and much less hassle, to have the torsion spring replaced by a professional service, than to swap out to an extension spring yourself.
As you already know, replacing the torsion spring yourself is not a DIY job and is quite dangerous. I’ve seen the other side of the “savings” in my Emergency Department, including busted bones and penetrating injuries. Plus you need a special tool to wind the spring.
If it is a heavy wooden door on tracks be very careful if you disconnect it from the opener. Such a door can become a guillotine when raised manually with no counter tension to prevent it sliding back down rapidly. For light metal doors this is not usually an issue.
I second letting a pro do it. I’ve only messed w/ one of these in my life and I remember thinking I’d wished I’d just paid someone who knew what they were doing. It’s not a DIY job, imho.
I haven’t noted any differences in the tracks. What’s different is the cable, front pulley & bracket, extension spring hanger, springs, traveling pulley, and safety cable.
Disclaimer-this is based on the doors I sell and install most often-Raynor. YMMV.
Good plan. 
Depending on your area, and if your door has one or two springs, expect to pay somewhere in the $150 - 250 range.
That’s gotta’ be cheaper than a visit to the ER. Plus the pros always charge more if you’ve tried to DIY before calling them.
I’ve replaced a torsion spring. I gave it about a rotation too many. I went to lift the door, with one hand it flew up and smacked into automatic opener. :smack:
Unwound it a little and it’s fine. Then off to repair the opener. One of those projects that took on a life of its own and took a lot longer than I thought it would.
I have called around and the typical quote is,
Them, "That will be $79.95 to come out, they need to see the door to quote the replacement cost of the spring. "
Me, “Can you give me an estimate for a 100-120 pound wood door?”
Them, “The tech really needs to do that on sight, would you like to schedule a tech?”
Me, (Thinking to self, oh, you want to screw me and have me say thank you), “No thank you”.
I think I might be back to converting to extension springs. I think this will cost me under $100.
Jim
Jim, When they quote a minimum you ask if that comes off the job total, or are they charging you for an estimate. Then ask their hourly rate, if they respond by telling you they quote by the job then you have a place to figure from. I would not normally expect to pay someone for an estimate. Of course you then keep track of the time and make sure you get credit for the minimum.
The three I talked to all indicated a base price for the call and an indeterminate price for the spring.
I just found a very local place that will do the job for $186. They will come out to measure the spring today or tomorrow and then will come back to do the job.
I plan to let them save me a huge aggravation and some danger.
Thank you everyone,
Jim {This is one more reason I love the Straight Dope}
This sounds like a shady way to do business. I agree with all of the above posters who urge you to get the spring(s) professionally replaced. It can KILL you if you screw it up. I’m sure your wife/significant-other will be thinking about all the money you saved them as they’re picking bolts out of your skull.
Do you know who installed the door? If so, call them. I bought an all new door, rails, torsion springs, and rollers and only paid around $600. I was amazed at that price, given how big the thing is. They had it all done in under an hour, including removal and haul-off of the old door. It was well worth the expense. They didn’t charge for the estimate and quoted a price on the entire job, not an hourly rate. If I ever have a problem with the door, I wouldn’t hesitate to call them. They gave me an honest deal and good work.
EXCELLENT! I, for one, am relieved for you. That sounds like an entirely reasonable cost.
Smart move, that’s $186. well spent.
A shady way to do business? Springs for overhead doors aren’t a simple x by y opening measurement. How thick is the door? Is it insulated or not? What is the headroom? Springs are heavy, such that carrying around, or stocking a vast inventory isn’t practical. If I sold you the door, then, yes-I will be able to look up and order a spring, and will typically have it in two business days, max. If I didn’t, do you expect me to take a WAG on the spring, come out and then determine that WAG to be incorrect? Of course not. A technician has to come out, determine the spring code, and then risk that the homeowner says, “Nah-I’ll have my brother-in-law fix it.” A charge for the service call is perfectly reasonable, unless you believe people should work for free. If I send a tech, with his truck, and his tools, from portal to portal, he’s burned an hour. His wages, benefits, insurance/depreciation on the truck all continue to accrue, every minute of every day.
Would you at least attempt to give a ball park. A high and low figure. How big is the variation on the spring for a 100-120 pound door?
These three I first talked to would not give an idea. $80 is a lot to find out they want a total of $400* when a local guy will do the job for under $200. I would say my first three, better advertised contacts where on the shady side.
Jim