Here are some quick notes about winding your garage door springs:
- A full revolution (full turn) is four quarter turns with the winding bars
- The number of turns or quarter turns is for EACH spring
- You can keep track of the number of turns by drawing a chalk line on the springs
How many turns should a garage door spring have?
How many turns on a garage door spring? When installing a new garage door spring or balancing one, the rule of thumb is to put a full turn on your torsion springs for every foot of garage door height, then add a ¾ turn at the end.
Do you need to wind garage door torsion springs?
If there is a garage door in your house, you must be familiar with garage door torsion springs. Sometimes you need to wind garage door torsion springs by providing the exact amount of turns. Let’s go to this article for more. How many turns do you wind a torsion spring? If you need to calculate, you must learn some rules and formulas.
How do you convert torsion springs to spring extensions?
Spring Conversion: Always convert torsion springs to a spring of equal or greater wire diameter Spring Growth-Torsion: Multiply the number of turns by the wire diameter to find spring growth Spring Stretch-Extension: The stretch of an extension spring is always ½ the door height
How do you calculate turns on a twist spring?
The calculation of “turns” depends on the door height and a full revolution. However, you might be winding up on the twist spring. Start by turning the spring up 0.25 turn until it meets an obstruction. Remember that an obstacle may help you to calculate accurately. When you face an obstruction, make a pause.
How many turns do you put on a garage door torsion spring?
0:154:02How Many Turns to Put on Your Garage Door Springs - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBasically a 7-foot door will have seven and three-quarter turns on the spring. Now we find it easierMoreBasically a 7-foot door will have seven and three-quarter turns on the spring. Now we find it easier just to use quarter turns. So you don't have to count the spring going around each time.
How many times do you turn a garage spring?
The standard torsion spring lasts approximately 10,000 open and close cycles, which is about 7 years of everyday use.
How many turns on a garage door torsion bar?
Use the winding rods to tighten the springs to the torsion bar. Torsion springs should be wound four quarter turns per foot of door height, plus an extra two turns. Once you're done winding your springs, keep a winding rod resting on the garage door header and tighten the set screws on the spring with a socket wrench.
How many turns on a 7ft garage door spring?
A) The amount of turns required on your springs depends on the height of your garage door. If your door is 7ft high then we recommend starting off at 31 Quarter turns on each springs. If you have an 8ft door then start at 34 Quarter turns.
How many turns on a 8ft garage door?
A) The amount of turns required on your springs depends on the height of your garage door. If your door is 7ft high then we recommend starting off at 31 Quarter turns on each springs. If you have an 8ft door then start at 34 Quarter turns.
What happens if I use a longer torsion spring?
Springs That Are Too Big Can Damage the Garage Door Opener When garage door springs are too large, they provide more strength than the door needs. It will open with too much force, rolling up very quickly and compromising its safety.
What do the colors mean on garage door torsion springs?
The color code on a torsion spring indicates whether it is a “right wind” or “left wind” spring, with black indicating right wind and red indicating left wind. Beyond that the torsion spring is color coded so that technicians can determine the thickness, or gauge, of the wire.
How do I know if my garage door springs need to be adjusted?
Here are a few signs that you might need a spring adjustment: Your door is more difficult to operate than usual--it takes longer to open or close too. Your door opens too quickly, or it slams shut (or both) The garage door doesn't close fully, or closes unevenly, leaving one side open.
Can I use a longer torsion spring on my garage door?
If your garage door springs have lasted less than five years, or if you plan to live where you are for many years, you may want to try the extra long life torsion springs. By using larger springs, you can, in most cases, quadruple your spring life while only doubling the cost of the springs.
How many turns on a garage door spring for a 10 foot door?
A rule of thumb with springs is that four quarter turns equals a full revolution and the spring needs to be tightened a full revolution for every foot of door height (e.g. 7-1/2 foot door = 7 revolutions +2 (30 quarter turns).
How tight should a garage door spring be?
You would want to tighten the adjuster a full turn clockwise to add tension if the door closed easily without holding up halfway. However, you will want to loosen the adjuster three turns counterclockwise if it was too tight.
How much weight can a torsion spring hold?
Torsion springs can handle weights of up to 800 lbs. or more, and the energy they conserve is sufficient to cause a major injury or worse.
How do I know if my garage door springs need to be adjusted?
Here are a few signs that you might need a spring adjustment: Your door is more difficult to operate than usual--it takes longer to open or close too. Your door opens too quickly, or it slams shut (or both) The garage door doesn't close fully, or closes unevenly, leaving one side open.
Which way do you wind a garage door spring?
0:070:45How to Find the Wind of a Garage Door Torsion Spring - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWill have threads that match the spring twine a left hand wound spring is mounted on the right sideMoreWill have threads that match the spring twine a left hand wound spring is mounted on the right side of the door. The right hand round spring is mounted on the left. There are exceptions to this rule.
How do you adjust the spring tension on a garage door?
Once your garage door is secured, remove the spring hook from the track hanger, which will allow you to move the hook and adjust the spring's tension. If you need to increase the spring tension, hook the spring onto a lower hole on the track hanger. To decrease tension, move the hook to a higher hole.
How do you adjust garage door side springs?
0:152:13DIY- Minor adjustment when installing Extension springs - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAlways make sure that you have a two inch drop on both sides it's important this is even becauseMoreAlways make sure that you have a two inch drop on both sides it's important this is even because your Springs work independently. And it makes your door operate.
How to determine the number of turns to wind a torsion spring?
The formulas for determining the number of turns to wind a torsion springs is based on the drum number, door height, and high lift dimension, which is the distance from the top of the door to the center of the horizontal track.
How to calculate lift door height?
On standard lift doors, the formula is (DH/DC)+1, or the door height in inches divided by the drum circumference in inches, plus one. After winding the spring, you may need to add or subtract a quarter turn or more.
How do lift doors work?
High lift doors rise vertically – some times a distance as short as a foot or more, sometimes more than half the door height – and then the door rides in the horizontal tracks. When the door is fully open, the lower part of the door hangs vertically in the vertical track extension.
Which way is the torsion spring on a garage door?
This spring is wound in a counterclockwise direction and, when looking down the torsion spring, the end of the wire will be on the left.
How long do torsion springs last?
A well-installed and well-maintained torsion spring should last a long time. Generally, the standard for garage door torsion springs is 10,000 cycles (a cycle being each time the door opens and closes).
How to tell what gauge wire to use for a torsion spring?
There are a number of ways you can tell what the wire gauge is of your torsion spring. The easiest is by simply looking at the end cone. Many manufacturers will color code the wire gauge and leave indications on the end cone. For example, if your end cone has a yellow marking then the wire size (or spring gauge) is 0.20.
How to measure the diameter of a torsion spring?
To get an accurate measurement of the inside diameter of your torsion spring, use a caliper. If you don’t have access to a caliper, you can also use a tape measure. But make sure you do not include the rim of the end cone in your measurement or the width of the coil. You are only measuring the diameter (or width) of the hollow portion of the torsion spring.
What is the right hand spring on a garage door?
For garage doors with two torsion springs, the spring on the left of the J-bar (or center support bracket) as you’re facing the backside of the garage door, is a right-hand wound spring. This means that the spring is wound in a clockwise direction. When you look down the torsion spring, the end of the wire is on the right side.
Why is a torsion spring important?
Arguably the most important component of your garage door, the torsion spring assures your garage door can be opened and closed with minimal effort. When the door is closed, the torsion spring tightens. When the door lifts open, the torsion spring releases its tension, which helps the door to rise. This is why you are able to lift such a heavy piece of equipment as a garage door so easily.
Where is the torsion spring located?
The torsion spring is located at the head or top of the garage door (before the door curves toward the garage ceiling). It is secured to a metal tube called the torsion tube, which itself fits inside the drums (one on either side of the garage door) which serve as spools for the lift cables (also one on either side of the garage door).
How many turns do you need for a garage door?
A) The amount of turns required on your springs depends on the height of your garage door. If your door is 7ft high then we recommend starting off at 31 Quarter turns on each springs. If you have an 8ft door then start at 34 Quarter turns. When you put your winding bars in your springs and push up this is a quarter turn, simply do this the recommended amount of times on each spring. Keep in mind this only holds true if the springs are correct for the garage door!
Where are torsion springs located?
A) The torsion springs can be positioned anywhere on the torsion tube. The springs simply rotate the torsion tube which rotates the cable drums which lifts the garage door. Its common to see the springs off-centered to allow for low headroom situations to utilize an opener.
How long do garage door springs last?
A) Garage Door Torsion Springs have an average life expectancy of 7-10 years depending on use. Most homes nowadays use their garage doors as their front door and the more you use the door the shorter the springs will last.
How much does a garage door opener weigh?
The opener is there to simply guild the door open very little force. Most Garage doors will weigh around 180-240lbs and getting them open without the assistance of the springs can be difficult.
Why use a heavy gauge spring on a garage door?
There is a line where it is actually beneficial to have a heavy gauge spring on the door than two smaller gauge springs because the bigger spring actually has a higher cycle life. Most commonly if you have a two car garage door with a single torsion spring, we recommend upgrading to a pair.
How much do springs expand?
A) Torsion springs will expand around 1-2 inches when they are wound from the previous installation. If you look up and see a 1-2 inch gap in your springs then it's time to replace them. Springs will also wear over time and if they just don't lifting force they used to or if there are gaps or binding in the springs it may be a good idea to replace them before you get your car trapped in the garage!
Can Torsion Springs be mismatched?
A) Torsion Springs may be mismatched from the factory or from a previous replacement. We prefer to see the springs matching so that they work together, wear the same, and balance out the door better over a longer period of time. Give us a call or send us an email so that you can get set up with a matching pair!
How long does a garage door torsion spring last?
The standard torsion spring lasts approximately 10,000 open and close cycles, which is about 7 years of everyday use. Increasing the cycle life of your torsion spring will not only limit the possibility ...
What affects the life of a torsion spring?
The variable that affects your torsion spring’s cycle life the most is its wire gauge or thickness. A higher wire gauge means a thicker wire and an overall stronger spring. Increasing the wire gauge will increase the durability of the spring causing it to last longer.
How to determine IPPT of a spring?
A spring’s IPPT is determined by dividing the spring’s constant (change in torque required to twist the spring through an angle of 1 radian (approx. 57.3 degrees)) by the number of active coils. In order to upgrade the lifecycle of your torsion spring while maintaining the same IPPT, we must consider how the wire gauge, inner diameter, ...
Does increasing the inner diameter shorten the length of the spring?
In other words, increasing the inner diameter will shorten the length of the spring. Having a spring that fits properly on your garage door is extremely important, so we must be careful not to install a spring that is too long or too wide. Upgrade Example. Below is a chart that shows how a garage door torsion spring’s cycle life can be upgraded by ...
Can you increase the life of a garage door torsion spring?
Increasing the cycle life of your torsion spring will not only limit the possibility of injury or damage but prevent you from having to replace it sooner than expected. In this article, we will go over the different variables that make up the cycle life of a garage door torsion spring.
Does a DURA lift door spring fit a torsion spring?
If your goal is to increase the cycle life of your garage door torsion spring, DURA-LIFT Door Hardware has everything you need. The new or replacement spring may fit differently than your original spring. However, if the wire gauge, inner diameter, and coil-to-coil length are adjusted to the same IPPT as the original spring (or close to it), then your garage door should give you many years of dependable service.
