From: brokenklutz@yahoo.com (DIY Klutz)
Newsgroups: alt.home.repair ba.consumers misc.consumers.house misc.consumers.frugal-living alt.tools.repair+advice
Subject: Re: Why would a garage door torsion spring break & is two better than one?
Date: 21 Feb 2004 15:24:57 -0800
(By the way, I always thought the GARAGE DOOR OPENER is what opened the
door. I never realized it was the torsion spring that opened the door. Duh!)
Now that I know more about the garage door, I can dig deeper into specifics
as to whether or not my existing torsion spring was overextended & whether
or not a torsion spring redesign (dual spring or larger size) is warranted.
The original spring was 33 inches long, 0.250 inch wire, left-hand helix, with
an ID of 1 3/4 inches and an OD of 2 1/4 inches on a 1 inch OD torsion rod.
Q: CAN SOMEONE HELP ME UNFUDDLE THE INFORMATION RELAYED BELOW?
This site http://diygaragerepair.com/sectionalsprings.htm provides a
table of suggested torsion springs to use with various sized doors:
1 3/4 inch inside diameter 1 3/4 inch inside diameter
Foam Insulated Sectional Door Non Insulated Sectional Door (25g)
8'x6'6" - 31 3/4 Yellow 8x6'6" - 26 3/4 Yellow
8'x7' - 31 3/4 Yellow 8x7 - 26 3/4 Yellow
8'x7'6" - 31 3/4 Yellow --- --- --- --- --- ---
8'x8' - 31 3/4 Yellow 8x8 - 31 1/2 White
9'x6'6" - 31 3/4 Yellow 9x6'6" - 26 3/4 Yellow
9'x7' - 31 3/4 Yellow 9x7 - 26 3/4 Yellow
9'x7'6" - 31 3/4 Yellow --- --- --- --- --- ---
9'x8' - 31 3/4 Yellow 9x8 - 31 1/2 White
10'x6'6" - 31 3/4 Yellow 10x6'6" - 28 3/4 Red
10'x7' - 31 3/4 Yellow 10x7 - 28 3/4 Red
10'x8' - 31 3/4 Yellow 10x8 - 31 Red
12'x6'6" - 31 3/4 Yellow --- --- --- --- --- ---
12'x7' - 31 3/4 Yellow 12x7 - 28 3/4 Brown
12'x8' - 28 3/4 White --- --- --- --- --- ---
14'x6'6" - 28 3/4 Red --- --- --- --- --- ---
14'x7' - 28 3/4 Red 14x7 - 31 Green
14'x8' - 28 3/4 Red --- --- --- --- --- ---
15'x7 - 28 3/4 Red 15x7 - 33 Green
15'8"x7' - 28 3/4 Red 15'8"x7 - 34 1/4 Gold
--- --- --- --- --- --- 15x8 - 26 3/4 Yellow (Pair)
16'x6'6" - 31 1/4 Brown 16x6'6" - 34 1/4 Gold
16'x7' - 31 1/4 Brown 16x7 - 34 1/4 Gold
16'x7'6" - 31 1/4 Brown --- --- --- --- --- ---
16'x8' - 31 1/4 Brown 16x8 - 26 3/4 Yellow (Pair)
18'x6'6" - 34 1/4 Gold 18x6'6" - 26 White (Pair)
18'x7' - 34 1/4 Gold 18x7 - 26 White (Pair)
18'x8' - 26 3/4 Yellow (Pair) 18x 8 - 31 Red (Pair)
Q1: What does the color mean here (where's the cross reference)?
(Does the color indicate the wire thickness?)
Q2: Can it be this simple? (where's the actual door weight)?
(Although the weight is inherent in the size & insulation; but,
don't materials, e.g., steel vs wood make a huge difference?)
However, this chart is all I have so far to determine if the existing
spring is the correct one for the application (I've no experience).
Given barely insulated garage door is 6 foot 9 inches in height
(which isn't on the charts above) but, interpolated from the chart
apparently suggests a single torsion spring design of dimensions:
31 1/4 inches long, Brown (whatever brown indicates here)
I assume this indicates the torsion spring listed as:
1.75 x 0.234 x 31.25 = $27.60 (LH helix, with cone, + $6.90 shipping)
Given that I replaced the original spring of the dimensions:
1.75 x 0.250 x 33 = $29.20 (LH helix, with cone, + 7.80 shipping)
I'd have to guess the existing spring (33 incher) is at least adequate.
There's nothing here to suggest a dual spring is warranted though.
Is there a better location on the web for DETERMINING THE CORRECT SPRING?
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