DT wrote:
In article ,
says...

I think I want to replace my side mounted garage door springs myself.
I have searched the web for instructions and found 1 semi-useful site
(www.naturalhandymand.com ) but I would really like some instructions with
photos or pictures. This will be the first time I have attempted this home
repair, and I'm much more comfortable with too much inforation than without
enough information.
Thanks,
Sue



Side mounted extension springs are very easy to change, quite safe compared to
torsion drive, since you work with no spring tension. Roll the door up. Use a C
clamp on each track to hold the door up (or vise grips). The spring is now just
hanging there with no tension. Unhook the cable, remove and replace the spring
and hook the cable back up. Try to get equal tension on each side, just barely
enough to hold the spring horizontal.

If it is a recent door there will be a safety cable down the center of the
spring that you will need to remove and replace also. And if it doesn't have
a safety cable, put one on, they are availabe at any Home Depot along with the
springs.

Here is Clopay's instructions, lots of other stuff on their site:

http://www.clopaydoor.com/publicfile...lyInstruct.pdf

Just curious, why do they need replacing?



All I might add to what DT said and the link he gave you is to make sure
you get the proper strength springs to match your door's weight.

Sometimes the springs are color coded with paint, to assist getting the
correct replacements, but the most certain test is to carefully lower
the door onto a bathroom scale with the door's springs disconnected.
(This may take a couple of husky guys to help you with.)

If the weight of the door exceeds the scale's range, you can easily
double that range with a simple lever made out of a foot or two length
of 2 by 4 and a brick. Put one end of wood on the scale and the other on
the brick and place that rig so the door gets lowered onto the center of
the piece of wood, then just double the scale's reading.

Once you know the weight of the door, just buy springs with a rating
close to that weight.

HTH,

Jeff


--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.