We have an older style garage door - single panel, two cars wide (16' ?) - that's held up by two long coil springs on each end. The springs are intact as far as I can see but they don't hold up the door with sufficient force on a breezy day. I don't recall that this was an issue in the past. Do these springs wear out from just sitting in place? Is there a maintenance schedule for the hinge mechanisms other than the note to lube the joints once a month (which I've never done)?

Thanks,
Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

What is this rust thing of which you speak?

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Could it be that, as on the springs in the trunk of my Benz, there is another hole further back, in which to insert the springs when age has caused them to loose their pulling power? Worked great on the trunk: stays up very well now.

__________________
-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831799-post13.html
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831807-post14.html

My folks house still had their origonal springs when we sold the house in 2000. It was built in 1955. But they did need adjustment thru the years. Theirs had an adjustment rod.

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

sixto,

On springs that are mounted vertically, there should be an adjustment for the length of the wire that wraps around the wheel at the end of the spring. Decreasing the distance of the wire will increase the tension on the the spring. In some instances you can move the spring itself. Do you find that more effort is needed to lift up the door?

On springs that are mounted horizontally, you should be able to stick in a "helper bar" of some sort, and after loosening a set screw (more like a bolt), tighten the spring.

Hope this helps...

-Larry

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

I once had a spring snapped in my gagrage and caused some damage to the car. These springs are stretched all the time when the door is closed. I would suggest to changed the worn out springs. They are a lot cheaper than a new scratch on your car when they break My 0.02

__________________
Flash Gordon

2003 E500 BlackOpal/Charcoal

2004 Infiniti G35X

Do these coil springs work in concert with 2 large wrought iron hinged arms? If so They are the same as I have.

The upper or lower end of the spring should be attached with a large thru-bolt with 2 nuts, 1 on each side of the mounting flange. Simply lower the inner nut and increase the tension by tightening the outer one.

__________________

newer springs have a chain or a cable running thru them to the attachment points, so it the spring lets go, it won't go flying into something, or worse yet, someone.


the ones in the house I grew up in were made in 1954, and they lasted 15-20 years before the first one snapped.

If in doubt about age, and there is no safety chain, REPLACE!

__________________
Nate Stanley
(Currently Benzless)
1985 F-250 6.9l 170K
2009 SCION XB 36.5K
2003 LS430 78K
2012 Kubota B 2320

The older-type springs are relatively inexpensive, so it pays to just replace them. They come in different lengths and tensions so choose wisely.

As Nate Stanley correctly asserted, the new ones come with a steel cable that you install through the spring so that in case the spring fails, it wont go flying accross the garage and damage your car (or worse, yourself)!

My first home was an older one, and the detatched garage had the old style hardware. The springs were the first to get replaced...it's a DIY.

The late-style spring that runs parallel along the top of the garage door is under a few tons of torsional tension so NEVER, NEVER mess with these!!!!! Get a pro to replace!!!

__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

After 20 years one of the garage door springs broke. Made an awful racket. Had a guy out to replace it. The guy said 20 years is average life for a spring.

About 6 months later, a door hinge with an integrated spring (used to automatically close the door) also broke. It appears the guy was right.

__________________
...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

You know... after all this speculation as to what kind of door opening assist device you have, you might just want to take a picture of it, and post it.

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D