Fixed my garage door spring - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

RML · #1 04-12-2009, 04:04 PM

I got home the other day and pushed the remote to open my garage door as I always do. It went up few inches and stopped. It turns out a spring broke. This happened about 4 years ago on the other side. It seems that the week spot is where there spring bends at the end to make a hook to latch onto the support framing. It seems like a weakness in the design. So I got to thinking . . .

It seemed like if I could attach some kind of hook to the spring without stressing it, I would be able to reattach it. So I went to the hardware store to look around. I came back with 2 U-Bolts. I didn't really need 2 of these, but just the extra nuts and cross bar. I used the two cross bars like a vise and attached them around the end of the spring. I also drilled a hole in the center of the cross bars and threaded the safety cable throught it, so the U-Bolt could not slip out if the nuts loosened over time. A little lubricant helped to wedge the cross bars between the spring windings.

Attached are a couple of pictures. The U-Bolts were $2.49 each. A new spring would have been $25.

connerm · #2 04-12-2009, 04:11 PM

Good fix. My torsion springs last around 10k cycles. When they cut loose, it sounds like a bomb. Watched a rookie work on one when it slipped. His ratchet went into the drywall across the room. Enormous power stored there.

TX76513 · #3 04-12-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by connerm

Good fix. My torsion springs last around 10k cycles. When they cut loose, it sounds like a bomb. Watched a rookie work on one when it slipped. His ratchet went into the drywall across the room. Enormous power stored there.

I was thinking about that when reading the first thread. Mine went last year incredible noise

Nate · #4 04-12-2009, 05:28 PM

I would be worried about that cheap metal bar fatuiging over time and giving way, it seems kinda thin for this application. Good thinking on the safety wire though.

I think there's room for improvement, possibly hardened hardware, but that would raise prices significantly. Does it flex when opening/closing the door? If so, it will fail soon.

Not to be taken offensively, just some constructive criticisms
~Nate

Kuan · #5 04-12-2009, 05:37 PM

Yeah they make a huge noise when they go. If you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time you could very well be six feet under. Had mine replaced with newfangled springs, the ones that roll up. I'm almost sure you can't build them the old way anymore.

Matt L · #6 04-12-2009, 06:00 PM

After using doors with the new torsion springs, I would never want to go back. Because the two spools are linked, the door stays straight.

Kuan · #7 04-12-2009, 06:17 PM

Right. Torsion springs. That's the word I was looking for.

toomany MBZ · #8 04-12-2009, 06:49 PM

I put in new doors when I bought the place, they were just being introduced at the time.
I like 'em.

RML · #9 04-12-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate

I would be worried about that cheap metal bar fatuiging over time and giving way, it seems kinda thin for this application. Good thinking on the safety wire though.

I think there's room for improvement, possibly hardened hardware, but that would raise prices significantly. Does it flex when opening/closing the door? If so, it will fail soon.

Not to be taken offensively, just some constructive criticisms
~Nate

No offense taken at all, Nate. I posted this with the intension of getting feedback and constructive criticism. The U-Bolt is much thicker than the spring itself so I am assuming that it is stronger. Though, I am not a metalurgist. I have not watched it closely when closing the door so have not observed whether it flexes. As far as the metal bar goes, I think it would be hard to see if it is flexing. It is bolted down very tight. I will try to observe it from a distance, maybe with a pair of binoculars from the side of the garage. I certainly am not going to put my head up there. I plan on checking it in about a month to make sure the bolts have not loosened up.

If it does fail, I figure I am no worse off than if the spring fails. The safety cable will contain it.

cmbdiesel · #10 04-12-2009, 11:30 PM

Fixed one in a similar manner years ago in a place I was renting. Cheapskate landlord wasn't going to fix it, so I got another open eye bolt, hooked it and the original through the spring in opposite directions, bolted 'em both back on the angle steel, and for good measure, wrapped the ends with baling wire. Lasted the whole year I lived there. I did make sure that safety wire was attached real well

jcyuhn · #11 04-13-2009, 09:04 AM

Garage door torsion springs are not scary at all. I've wound them up with a pair of 12" ratchet extensions; that's plenty of leverage. It's all FUD from the door industry trying to preserve their margins. For some reason it's too dangerous to install your own garage door spring (which is contained by the roller bar it acts on), but you can borrow an automotive spring compressor for free from any McParts store. The auto spring is an order of magnitude more potential energy.