Garage door maintenance
 

My garage door spring broke this week and I later discovered that two of my neighbors had the same problem over the last year. Our houses were built in 2004, which is apparently getting to the end of a spring's lifespan.

Apologies to those who are well aware of this (and perhaps @DangeloInspections has more detailed information to add), but just a friendly heads-up that it's probably best on older homes to inspect the spring every so often. It never occurred to me at all.

Nobody wants the door falling on their car as they drive in or out!

One of the springs broke on our garage door about two weeks ago, and our home was also built in 2004.
I’m curious as to what you would look for when inspecting the springs?
I would guess the metal fatigues in time with repeated stress, and the metal eventually snaps at the weakest point.
Highly recommend Ryan O’Cull for replacement and door service. 352-617-0522

Ryan is the best in The Villages, hands down.

There are suggestions online on what and how to check, but who knows how accurate they are. There are so many different types of doors and mechanisms.

I was taught to wind the springs 7 tunrs on a normal double wide door. You can verify this if they ran some chalk on the spring before winding. Also wipe the springs yearly with oil to keep them lubed. Checking the winding will show you if the spring is slipping. Of course this was years ago.

And in my opinion. replacing the springs is one job I leave to the pros.

coil springs can easily break your arm--use Ryan, he's a pro-doesn't charge much--most likely you don't have the proper pins for locking the spring keepers,

Ditto Ryan O'Cull.

Door springs
 

[QUOTE=Chatbrat;1587299]coil springs can easily break your arm--use Ryan, he's a pro-doesn't charge much--most likely


Suggestion: Every 4 months, have a small tag on door for a reminder. Run the door up and down, use a semi stiff brush to do the rollers and guides and springs. As door goes up and down. spray a small amount of WD ON the pins holding the runners. Wipe off excess. On the springs,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,LEAVE THEM ALONE YOU ARE NOT A DOOR SPECIALIST. also CHECK WITH MVP DOORS, THEY ARE ON rolling acres, AND WILL GIVE GOOD ADVICE. YOU CAN BE HURT BADLY BY PRETENDING TO BE A DOOR INSTALLER. also STAY AWAY FROM THE OCCASIONAL MECHANIC COMING AROUND. BE SAFE.

:bigbow: bbbbbb

IMO there no way knowing when garage door spring going to fail. Usually here Big Bang or pop like gun when off and rattling sound of the spring vibrating. If you listen to your garage door sound as it goes up and down you will hear change when problem has occurred. Or just look up at the springs periodically and you can see the difference in two and the popped on will be unwind and floppy on one end.

The garage door not going to fail with one spring broke, but it puts pressure on the door motor having to pull half the weight or the garage door due to both springs or more counter balances the weight of the garage door to make it easy to lift manually and easier for the door motor to lift. My house was alao built in 2003/2004 time frame. Had broken spring two years ago. Who knows how many times they have been replaced, depends on cycle times. Mine goes up and down several times a day, more cycling sooner it will fail. Ryan IMO this the best And loves cash payment. I wouldn’t even attempt to replace it myself unless I had to. IMO too dangerous for the jack of all trades.

Ours broke this past week. Home built in 2008. Called Ryan O'Cull. Came within 20 minutes. Replaced both springs. We're back in business. Yeah Ryan!!

Previous
 

I should add to,my posting that at that time I was a garage door installer and repair person for Overhead Door company in another city. I mention counting the chalk marks only to see if the spring has slipped. We also told people to once a year wipe some oil across the springs and move the door up and down. I would not do any replacement work because of the danger as a homeowner

[QUOTE=bbbbbb;1587773]
I read somewhere to NOT use WD40 but to use LITHIUM GREASE SPRAY on door parts/tracks/rollers because WD40 is mostly water.


How to Lubricate a Garage Door: 10 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

[QUOTE=EdFNJ;1587940]IMO Unless you wipe off all the overspray of the grease and it actually gets into the rollers all it going to do collect dust and dirt. Dirt has fine sand particles which act like sand paper eating up roller surface and tracks. So, my suggestion is us it sparingly with nozzle that direct the stream rather than spray.

IMO if WD40 mostly water why don’t it rust the tools I us it on with unplated surfaces? WD 40 evaporates in little time why it not as effective as grease. IMO the evaporation get rid of the moisture until you use the tool again.

[QUOTE=EdFNJ;1587940]:ohdear: GOOGLE is our friend.......

"WD-40® literally stands for Water Displacement, 40th formula. That's the name straight out of the lab book used by the chemist who developed the product back in 1953. The chemist, Norm Larsen, was attempting to concoct a formula to prevent corrosion—a task which is done by displacing water."

:ho:

[QUOTE=EdFNJ;1587940]I rather doubt WD-40 is mostly water. Regardless, though WD-40 is a SOLVENT, not a lubricant. I don’t think it’s appropriate for the springs.

Blaster makes a product designed specifically for lubricating garage door springs and rollers. It's $4.99 a can (Lowe's or Home Depot). I've used it for years and seems to work well.

The same for me. I called at 11:30 on Saturday and Ryan came over and replaced the broken spring by 12:05 PM.

I couldn't have asked more for quick service and repair.

Ryan is the best!!!

:clap2::clap2::clap2:

Never use WD-40 as a lube, I used it if one of my guns got wet, to displace water- thoroughly cleaned them and used a proper lube--same goes for all equipment

Thanks for the Info

Best there is
 

Masters Garage Door Service 352-347-6411 Jeff O'Cull Owner. He responds rapidly and is fast, he changed both spring in less than 30 minutes for $275.
Yes metal fatigue id the culprit, 8 to 10 years.

Use Ryan Ocull 3523511752 you won't be sorry

Used Ryan on this sites recommendations and he was wonderful. Responded immediately and fixed problem. I just called him again for another small problem. Watch out for those 24 hr a day companies. Needed to get out of my garage quickly when my spring broke. They came within an hour and charged me an enormous amount to replace spring. I had no choice because I could not open the door.

Happened to me 25 years ago. Was Told to lubricate the spring annually with WD 40. Been doing that ever since although I now use motor oil. Have not broken a spring since.

With age the spring rusts. As the door is opened and closed the rust results in extra stress on the spring as it coils and uncoils finally causing it to break. Have never had a spring break since I began lubricating it.

Had this happen 30 years ago. Was told to lubricate the spring regularly. I was told to lubricate with WD 40. Have used that and motor oil. Have had no spring break since. The lubricant takes care of any rust. Buildup of rust stresses the spring every time the door is activated until it snaps.

I agree, Ryan O'Cull is great - 352 617 0522. Also - don't mess around with the door springs, when they let go they can cause serious injuries

We've had several garage doors "fail". They don't come down on the car--the failure occurs before the door is open so you can't get in or out with the opener. We looked online at directions, and decided it was too dangerous for an over-70 yr old to attempt. Better safe than sorry. James Anderson is also very good. Reasonably priced and had previously helped us with the remote and opener, so we immediately called for the spring job. His number is 352-330-1145 or 352-459-7834.

Ohiobuckeye
 

Actually you can replace the spring or spring yourself if you know how many winds you need. That's why they have 4 or 5 holes on the end of the spring, it's so you can turn the spring. The spring has to be wind just the right amount of times or your door won't go up or down.

I'm a do-it- yourself guy for many repairs but I would never attempt working on garage door springs. You can get badly hurt by those springs. Leave that repair to the pro's.

Agree, plus you need the right tool to do this job efficiently.

Ryan O'Cull. He is the man.... Called him yesterday and he was there in 20 minutes. I had called the installer, and they told me it would be a week.

Quick question? If one of the springs breaks, can you still get the door up. A few years ago one of my springs broke and I could not get the door up. Is there a trick to it. Thanks.

Mine broke and fell on the roof of my car as I was pulling in. Do NOT use ASAP Garage Doors. They are rude, didn't finish the job, and stole parts.

Ohiobuckeye
 

I know what you're saying but the new doors that have springs on them you don't dare to let the tension slip while you're winding it & it could But the springs are only about $20. (unless you have 2 springs, it would be about $40.) I guess I'm to much of do it yourself person, anything you have done here in TV I think the so called pro's take advantage of us retirees & charge way to much. But yes you're probably right, if you're a little worried about getting hurt, it"s better than going to the hospital. Just my opinion. Thanks for your reply!

Thumbs up to Ryan O’Cull
 

Ryan of Garage Doors inc. fixed my springs yesterday. He was at my house within hours after I called him, replaced not only the springs but drive chain and belt. Friendly, courteous, and more than $100 cheaper than another company I called to just replace the springs. He’s got my vote!! Good job Ryan!

If the motor won't lift it then you have to put the manual cord hanging down to release the motor chain or screw. it will be heavy depending on what material it made out of, todays doors are light weight compared to doors of the 80s or earlier with panels made of particle boards.

I had several broken springs on two spring door and 3 or 4 spring door (my previous house had older heavy particle board door with wooden siding, That thing was massive and heavy and 4 springs) on double extra wide garage door 18 feet or so. Never had door not go up and down with just one spring broken. It puts more pressure on the motor and you can hear the difference. I guarantee you there are lots of garages doors with spring broken and the door still works until the other spring breaks or the door motor fails. The springs counter balance the weight of the garage door. yes it will be heavier with one spring broke and weak may not be able to manually open it if the motor won't. It's best to look at the springs see if one has failed before it causes other failures.

Our spring went last Wednesday. Called Ryan 2 hours later the spring was replaced and door adjusted. Great service and a nice young man.

The spring tension wound up by using punches, you wind with one put the other in to hold tension till you wind the other. The more you wind the greater the danger. Then , you have to know how many turns to counter balance the door and other spring. Then, lock it down. Some jobs are just to much of hassle in less you broke.

My spring broke last night. I called Ryan O'Cull based on the positive comments on this site. He said he would be over in about 10 minutes. He was here in less than that. The new springs were installed in about an hour. Total cost $245. My neighbor had his replaced at a cost of more than double what I paid.

Ryan O’Cull. Reliable, reasonable, skilled. Absolutely the one to call for garage door repairs! (352) 351-1752