I have an old style overhead garage door, which incorporates
two springs on each side to more or less counter-balance the
door as it is opened and closed. Each spring is about 24"
long. I've lived here 27 years, and now and then one would
break, and I would replace it, with a little grunting and
straining.

Now, I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I cannot pull
the springs enough to un-hook or re-hook them. I'm
wondering if there is a tool or device used by garage door
specialists to stretch these springs for easier installation
and replacement.

Any ideas?

Many thanks.

--
----------
CWLee
Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred
cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas, and
promote for performance, not preferences.

CWLee wrote:


I have an old style overhead garage door, which incorporates
two springs on each side to more or less counter-balance the
door as it is opened and closed. Each spring is about 24"
long. I've lived here 27 years, and now and then one would
break, and I would replace it, with a little grunting and
straining.

Now, I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I cannot pull
the springs enough to un-hook or re-hook them. I'm
wondering if there is a tool or device used by garage door
specialists to stretch these springs for easier installation
and replacement.



Those are extension springs. I hope to hell you are not adjusting
them with the door down!

Raise the door and put a set of vise-grips on the track to keep it
from falling. Then, you can adjust the springs in the relaxed
position. There should be hardly any tension at all, unless you are
very weak - then I would not even recommend being on the ladder.

CWLee wrote:
I have an old style overhead garage door, which incorporates
two springs on each side to more or less counter-balance the
door as it is opened and closed. Each spring is about 24"
long. I've lived here 27 years, and now and then one would
break, and I would replace it, with a little grunting and
straining.

Now, I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I cannot pull
the springs enough to un-hook or re-hook them. I'm
wondering if there is a tool or device used by garage door
specialists to stretch these springs for easier installation
and replacement.

Any ideas?

Many thanks.


I would imagine you could hook the back end of the spring in place and
then use a "come along" between the front spring hook and a spot on the
track frame near the door opening to stretch the spring as required to
be able to hook the moving cable pully onto it.

You ARE doing this with the door fully up, aren't you? By that I mean
pushed up to the point where the moving pullies will move as far back as
they can, and the door held stopped there with a pair of vise grips or a
C-clamp on the track.

I'm a bit suprised, because usually, if the springs are sized right for
the door weight, they'll pretty much have no tension on them when the
door is fully up.

Perhaps you got the wrong strength springs?

With the springs disconnected, weigh the door by lowering it onto a
bathroom scale. If it's heavier than the scale can accomodate, make a
simple lever from a piece of board and a brick to multiply the scale's
range. Then make sure you buy a pair of springs rated for the measured
door weight.

HTH,

Jeff

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

I think this OP has springs that are attached by a chain. No track
involved. In that case, the OP could use a block and tackle or "come-along"
pulley. Ask your local hardware salesperson.....

--
Zyp

""Fat Tony" D'Amico" wrote in message
news
CWLee wrote:


I have an old style overhead garage door, which incorporates
two springs on each side to more or less counter-balance the
door as it is opened and closed. Each spring is about 24"
long. I've lived here 27 years, and now and then one would
break, and I would replace it, with a little grunting and
straining.

Now, I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I cannot pull
the springs enough to un-hook or re-hook them. I'm
wondering if there is a tool or device used by garage door
specialists to stretch these springs for easier installation
and replacement.



Those are extension springs. I hope to hell you are not adjusting
them with the door down!

Raise the door and put a set of vise-grips on the track to keep it
from falling. Then, you can adjust the springs in the relaxed
position. There should be hardly any tension at all, unless you are
very weak - then I would not even recommend being on the ladder.

"CWLee" wrote

I have an old style overhead garage door, which incorporates
two springs on each side to more or less counter-balance the
door as it is opened and closed. Each spring is about 24"
long. I've lived here 27 years, and now and then one would
break, and I would replace it, with a little grunting and
straining.

Now, I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I cannot pull
the springs enough to un-hook or re-hook them. I'm
wondering if there is a tool or device used by garage door
specialists to stretch these springs for easier installation
and replacement.

Any ideas?

Many thanks.

Is this the old style of door, that is a single panel, not 4 or 5 panels?
The type which you pull towards you, then it swings up?

Zephyr wrote:

I think this OP has springs that are attached by a chain. No track
involved. In that case, the OP could use a block and tackle or "come-along"
pulley. Ask your local hardware salesperson.....


You must be thinking of a one-piece door. That is not what the OP
described.

Every extension spring I've seen is attached to the horizontal track
at the front and the back hang at the rear. Incidentally, I just
replaced a wooden door that was 50+ years old that was 12' high and
12' wide with extension springs. I couldn't believe it! No safety
cable either. If one of those were to break there would be 500lbs of
spring velocity that would easily slice through a wall on failure.

Larry wrote:




Is this the old style of door, that is a single panel, not 4 or 5 panels?
The type which you pull towards you, then it swings up?



Now that I think about it, I bet he does have a one-piece.

I have never replaced the springs on them, only taken them down and
replaced the door. (after some framing)

I'm the original poster. I need to clarify the type of
garage door I have. It is for a double garage, and it is
one large panel, about 6'6" x 18'. It is constructed of 2 x
4s and sheet plywood. On each side of the door there is a
bracket that hinges on hardware that is attached to the wall
next to the door opening.

When the door is closed the springs are stretched. When the
door is opened they contract. In the past when one of the
springs has broken I have held the door open using a 6'
ladder. Then I have released the safety catch, and the
broken spring came off very easily. When I attached the new
spring I had to stretch it perhaps an inch or so for it to
hook, and then I would re-install the safety catch.

I recently repaired the door by replacing some water soaked
crumbling areas with fresh, slightly thicker plywood. This
makes the door a little bit heavier, so that when it is in
the full up/open position it is not quite horizontal as it
was before. What I want to do now is, one side at a time,
is disconnect the two springs, and then move the metal
harness into which they fit, into the next hole. (There are
five adjustment holes provided, and mine is in the middle
one, so I can go two steps in either direction.) Then when
I reconnect the springs they will be stretched a bit more,
and thus pull the door up a bit farther.

The only track involved is part of the automatic garage door
opener, and I don't think it is relevant to my problem.
(But, I could be wrong, and I'm here to learn not argue.)

So, with that additional clarification, what do suggest for
a tool or device to stretch the springs that my 75 year old
muscles can't handle? :-)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"CWLee" wrote in message
...

I have an old style overhead garage door, which
incorporates
two springs on each side to more or less counter-balance
the
door as it is opened and closed. Each spring is about 24"
long. I've lived here 27 years, and now and then one
would
break, and I would replace it, with a little grunting and
straining.

Now, I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I cannot pull
the springs enough to un-hook or re-hook them. I'm
wondering if there is a tool or device used by garage door
specialists to stretch these springs for easier
installation
and replacement.

Any ideas?

Many thanks.

--
----------
CWLee
Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred
cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas,
and
promote for performance, not preferences.

"CWLee" wrote

Any ideas?

Can you use something like a long open eye bolt to hook the spring on? Hook
the eye bolt someway , and adjust/tighten the eye bolt as needed?
http://www.tsamfgomaha.com/images/eyebolt-dd-big.gif

I think I may be just grasping, since I can't picture how the springs hook.

open the door.

--
Steve Barker




"CWLee" wrote in message
...

I have an old style overhead garage door, which incorporates
two springs on each side to more or less counter-balance the
door as it is opened and closed. Each spring is about 24"
long. I've lived here 27 years, and now and then one would
break, and I would replace it, with a little grunting and
straining.

Now, I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I cannot pull
the springs enough to un-hook or re-hook them. I'm
wondering if there is a tool or device used by garage door
specialists to stretch these springs for easier installation
and replacement.

Any ideas?

Many thanks.

--
----------
CWLee
Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred
cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas, and
promote for performance, not preferences.

On Mon, 07 May 2007 20:44:49 -0500, "\"Fat Tony\" D'Amico"
wrote:

Zephyr wrote:

I think this OP has springs that are attached by a chain. No track
involved. In that case, the OP could use a block and tackle or "come-along"
pulley. Ask your local hardware salesperson.....


You must be thinking of a one-piece door. That is not what the OP
described.

Did he even say?

Every extension spring I've seen is attached to the horizontal track
at the front and the back hang at the rear. Incidentally, I just
replaced a wooden door that was 50+ years old that was 12' high and
12' wide with extension springs. I couldn't believe it! No safety
cable either. If one of those were to break there would be 500lbs of
spring velocity that would easily slice through a wall on failure.

"Meat Plow" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 07 May 2007 17:49:26 -0700, CWLee wrote:


I have an old style overhead garage door, which incorporates
two springs on each side to more or less counter-balance the
door as it is opened and closed. Each spring is about 24"
long. I've lived here 27 years, and now and then one would
break, and I would replace it, with a little grunting and
straining.

Now, I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I cannot pull
the springs enough to un-hook or re-hook them. I'm
wondering if there is a tool or device used by garage door
specialists to stretch these springs for easier installation
and replacement.

Any ideas?


Put the door up, make sure the springs are slack. Find the cable adjuster
on each side near the top rail and pulley. (looks like a little buckle)
you'll be able to see how they work. Also check the cable system and make
sure there are no binds, kinks etc.. It's all common sense.

And on a door that old, if there aren't any safety cables inside the
springs, strongly consider adding some. Be a damn shame if a spring fails
someday when you are standing beside the car as door is going down, and it
tags you in the head.

aem sends....

CWLee wrote:

I recently repaired the door by replacing some water soaked
crumbling areas with fresh, slightly thicker plywood. This
makes the door a little bit heavier, so that when it is in
the full up/open position it is not quite horizontal as it
was before. What I want to do now is, one side at a time,
is disconnect the two springs, and then move the metal
harness into which they fit, into the next hole. (There are
five adjustment holes provided, and mine is in the middle
one, so I can go two steps in either direction.) Then when
I reconnect the springs they will be stretched a bit more,
and thus pull the door up a bit farther.

The only track involved is part of the automatic garage door
opener, and I don't think it is relevant to my problem.
(But, I could be wrong, and I'm here to learn not argue.)

So, with that additional clarification, what do suggest for
a tool or device to stretch the springs that my 75 year old
muscles can't handle? :-)


Ahhh.. so it is a one-piece.

Ask for some help, do you have a neighbor or someone that could help?
Holding that much spring can bring you off the ladder quickly. There
is no tool I know of designed for that, you may be able to rig a come
along - but that can be dangerous too. Don't be a hero - ask for
help.

On May 7, 10:51 pm, Meat Plow wrote:
On Tue, 08 May 2007 02:36:56 +0000, aemeijers wrote:

"Meat Plow" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 07 May 2007 17:49:26 -0700, CWLee wrote:

I have an old style overhead garage door, which incorporates
two springs on each side to more or less counter-balance the
door as it is opened and closed. Each spring is about 24"
long. I've lived here 27 years, and now and then one would
break, and I would replace it, with a little grunting and
straining.

Now, I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I cannot pull
the springs enough to un-hook or re-hook them. I'm
wondering if there is a tool or device used by garage door
specialists to stretch these springs for easier installation
and replacement.

Any ideas?

Put the door up, make sure the springs are slack. Find the cable adjuster
on each side near the top rail and pulley. (looks like a little buckle)
you'll be able to see how they work. Also check the cable system and make
sure there are no binds, kinks etc.. It's all common sense.

And on a door that old, if there aren't any safety cables inside the
springs, strongly consider adding some. Be a damn shame if a spring fails
someday when you are standing beside the car as door is going down, and it
tags you in the head.

aem sends....

Very true indeed. Great advice.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I also don't understand the comment that because repairs have added
some weight to the door, it no longer opens fully. I can see that it
won't just open fully on it's own, but surely is should if you just
push it up a bit, then use vise grips or similar to keep it there.
Once it's fully open, a lot less force will be required to move the
spring hooks. But, depending on how much weight the repairs added,
it may be necessary to go to heavier springs.

First thing I'd do though is make sure they have safety cables. What
you're doing is going to result in the springs being under more
tension than before. If one snaps, you want to make sure it doesn't
go anywhere.

Last year, I was installing a garage door opener, not even touching
the springs. When I was doing the final adjustment, KAPOW! Luckily
it didn;'t hit me, even though I was only a few feet away. All mine
have safety cables now.

On Mon, 7 May 2007 18:59:52 -0700, "CWLee"
wrote:


I'm the original poster. I need to clarify the type of
garage door I have. It is for a double garage, and it is
one large panel, about 6'6" x 18'. It is constructed of 2 x
4s and sheet plywood. On each side of the door there is a
bracket that hinges on hardware that is attached to the wall
next to the door opening.

When the door is closed the springs are stretched. When the
door is opened they contract. In the past when one of the
springs has broken I have held the door open using a 6'
ladder. Then I have released the safety catch, and the
broken spring came off very easily. When I attached the new
spring I had to stretch it perhaps an inch or so for it to
hook, and then I would re-install the safety catch.

I recently repaired the door by replacing some water soaked
crumbling areas with fresh, slightly thicker plywood. This
makes the door a little bit heavier, so that when it is in
the full up/open position it is not quite horizontal as it
was before. What I want to do now is, one side at a time,
is disconnect the two springs, and then move the metal
harness into which they fit, into the next hole. (There are
five adjustment holes provided, and mine is in the middle
one, so I can go two steps in either direction.) Then when
I reconnect the springs they will be stretched a bit more,
and thus pull the door up a bit farther.

The only track involved is part of the automatic garage door
opener, and I don't think it is relevant to my problem.
(But, I could be wrong, and I'm here to learn not argue.)

So, with that additional clarification, what do suggest for
a tool or device to stretch the springs that my 75 year old
muscles can't handle? :-)


I recomend a nephew. Failing that, you need some alternative
way to open and close the door. (Maybe a come-along attached
to the back wall of the garage?)

Close the door part way, and shove sticks (wood shingle, bits
of clapboard, or parts of a pallet) into the coils of the spring.
Open the door all the way, and brace it. Move the springs.
Un-brace-the door, lower it, and take the sticks out.

"Fat Tony" D'Amico wrote:
Larry wrote:



Is this the old style of door, that is a single panel, not 4 or 5 panels?
The type which you pull towards you, then it swings up?




Now that I think about it, I bet he does have a one-piece.

I have never replaced the springs on them, only taken them down and
replaced the door. (after some framing)



Having lived here in Red Sox Nation for the past fifty something years I
didn't think about the possibility of it being a one piece door either.

One piece garage doors aren't commonly used here because a couple of
inches of snow drifted against the bottom edge of the door makes them
near impossible to begin opening.

I do remember our home had two one piece garage doors when I was a kid
living in snowless San Francisco. G

Jeff

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

On Mon, 7 May 2007 17:49:26 -0700, CWLee wrote:



I have an old style overhead garage door, which incorporates
two springs on each side to more or less counter-balance the
door as it is opened and closed. Each spring is about 24"
long. I've lived here 27 years, and now and then one would
break, and I would replace it, with a little grunting and
straining.

Now, I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I cannot pull
the springs enough to un-hook or re-hook them. I'm
wondering if there is a tool or device used by garage door
specialists to stretch these springs for easier installation
and replacement.

Hire somebody with a clue. Make a mistake and you can take
your head off.

Goedjn wrote:
On Mon, 7 May 2007 18:59:52 -0700, "CWLee"
wrote:


I'm the original poster. I need to clarify the type of
garage door I have. It is for a double garage, and it is
one large panel, about 6'6" x 18'. It is constructed of 2 x
4s and sheet plywood. On each side of the door there is a
bracket that hinges on hardware that is attached to the wall
next to the door opening.

When the door is closed the springs are stretched. When the
door is opened they contract. In the past when one of the
springs has broken I have held the door open using a 6'
ladder. Then I have released the safety catch, and the
broken spring came off very easily. When I attached the new
spring I had to stretch it perhaps an inch or so for it to
hook, and then I would re-install the safety catch.

I recently repaired the door by replacing some water soaked
crumbling areas with fresh, slightly thicker plywood. This
makes the door a little bit heavier, so that when it is in
the full up/open position it is not quite horizontal as it
was before. What I want to do now is, one side at a time,
is disconnect the two springs, and then move the metal
harness into which they fit, into the next hole. (There are
five adjustment holes provided, and mine is in the middle
one, so I can go two steps in either direction.) Then when
I reconnect the springs they will be stretched a bit more,
and thus pull the door up a bit farther.

The only track involved is part of the automatic garage door
opener, and I don't think it is relevant to my problem.
(But, I could be wrong, and I'm here to learn not argue.)

So, with that additional clarification, what do suggest for
a tool or device to stretch the springs that my 75 year old
muscles can't handle? :-)


I recomend a nephew. Failing that, you need some alternative
way to open and close the door. (Maybe a come-along attached
to the back wall of the garage?)

Close the door part way, and shove sticks (wood shingle, bits
of clapboard, or parts of a pallet) into the coils of the spring.
Open the door all the way, and brace it. Move the springs.
Un-brace-the door, lower it, and take the sticks out.

THAT is a decent idea! I'd never have thought of that in a million years!!
I had those doors when we lived in Chgo so am familiar with them but haven't
had any good ideas for this poster. I ended up useing threaded eye-hooks
for the springs. Loop the spring over it, lug the nuts until it cinched up
where I needed it. Those springs were bears to stretch and get positioned,
plus it was a low-clearance installation and a bit_h to reach things when
the door was up.
A few pieces of wood to keep the springs partially extended would have
worked wonders - good thinking.

Pop`

aemeijers wrote:
"Meat Plow" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 07 May 2007 17:49:26 -0700, CWLee wrote:


I have an old style overhead garage door, which incorporates
two springs on each side to more or less counter-balance the
door as it is opened and closed. Each spring is about 24"
long. I've lived here 27 years, and now and then one would
break, and I would replace it, with a little grunting and
straining.

Now, I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I cannot pull
the springs enough to un-hook or re-hook them. I'm
wondering if there is a tool or device used by garage door
specialists to stretch these springs for easier installation
and replacement.

Any ideas?


Put the door up, make sure the springs are slack. Find the cable
adjuster on each side near the top rail and pulley. (looks like a
little buckle) you'll be able to see how they work. Also check the
cable system and make sure there are no binds, kinks etc.. It's all
common sense.
And on a door that old, if there aren't any safety cables inside the
springs, strongly consider adding some. Be a damn shame if a spring
fails someday when you are standing beside the car as door is going
down, and it tags you in the head.

aem sends....

I was standing in the garage a few years back when one of mine let go. They
make an awful BANG, and I had to use a crowbar to get the spring end out of
the beam at the door end! I have safety cables now ;-)

Pop`

Pop` wrote:


THAT is a decent idea! I'd never have thought of that in a million years!!
I had those doors when we lived in Chgo so am familiar with them but haven't
had any good ideas for this poster. I ended up useing threaded eye-hooks
for the springs. Loop the spring over it, lug the nuts until it cinched up
where I needed it. Those springs were bears to stretch and get positioned,
plus it was a low-clearance installation and a bit_h to reach things when
the door was up.
A few pieces of wood to keep the springs partially extended would have
worked wonders - good thinking.


That is a stupid idea. You're going to kill this guy.

(I'm the original poster.)

"Goedjn" wrote:

"Close the door part way, and shove sticks (wood shingle,
bits
of clapboard, or parts of a pallet) into the coils of the
spring.
Open the door all the way, and brace it. Move the springs.
Un-brace-the door, lower it, and take the sticks out."

That was the best idea I found. I did that, using nails as
the space holders, and it worked just fine. Adjustment
made.

As an aside, all four springs already had the safety devices
inside them, so this was not as risky as some feared.

Thanks to all, and especially Goedjn, for the suggestions.