On Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at 7:52:07 AM UTC-5, DerbyDad03 wrote:
One of the side cables on my garage door snapped last night. Single width,
wooden door. Youtube shows at least 3 different methods for replacement.

This one is done with the door in the open position. The torsion spring is
not released and nothing is taken apart or even loosened. Since my GDO
will open the door even with the broken cable, this seems like the easiest
method. Having the door open makes accessing the bottom cable attachment
very easy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzsQuFj5ygU

This video shows it being done with the door closed. The torsion spring is
adjusted a tiny bit to remove the tension and then the cable hubs are loosened
on the shaft to allow the cable to be installed. Getting to the bottom
attachment requires the removal/loosening of some parts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WpHlhb6ENA

This video shows it being done with the door closed and the torsion spring
*completely* relaxed before the hubs are loosened and the cable installed.
Again, getting to the bottom attachment requires the removal/loosening of
some parts. Afterwards, the torsion spring has to be wound back up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJToxdUt560

Can anyone see any reason why I shouldn't use the first method which seems
like the quickest and easiest? Why play with the spring and/or loosen the
cable hubs if it is not necessary? I know that I might have to adjust the
hubs afterwards if the new cables (I'll do both) aren't the same length as
the old ones, but isn't it worth giving the first method a try?

Thanks for any advice you have to offer.

I would not work on any garage door while the springs were in tension.

It is very dangerous. I mean lethally dangerous.

If you can do the job with the door open and therefore all tension released from the springs, that is far safer.

Just make sure the door cannot roll down and close unexpectedly.

m