So last night I hit the button on the remote control to close my 30
year old garage door. Just as the door was about closed, I heard a
loud pop. Turns out that the one of the wires that attaches the one
of the long springs to the door has broken, leaving me with only one
of the big springs still working. The opener will still open and
close the door, but I can tell it's working a harder than it used to.
How urgent is the need to replace the thick wire that attaches the
spring to the door? Is this something that a garage-door rookie can
do? I know garage door replacement is something best left to the
pros, but I'm hoping I can handle this repair on my own.

Thanks for any info...

Mike

On Jul 2, 8:45*am, Mike wrote:
So last night I hit the button on the remote control to close my 30
year old garage door. *Just as the door was about closed, I heard a
loud pop. *Turns out that the one of the wires that attaches the one
of the long springs to the door has broken, leaving me with only one
of the big springs still working. *The opener will still open and
close the door, but I can tell it's working a harder than it used to.
How urgent is the need to replace the thick wire that attaches the
spring to the door? *Is this something that a garage-door rookie can
do? *I know garage door replacement is something best left to the
pros, but I'm hoping I can handle this repair on my own.

Thanks for any info...

Mike

Just now doing some googling....which perhaps I should have done prior
to posting here....these are extension springs. I believe the springs
are okay, but the sheave (pulley) on one side is the issue. Actually,
the pulley might be okay, but the wire that runs through the pulley is
what snapped. Has anyone replaced that wire?

Mike

Mike wrote:
So last night I hit the button on the remote control to close my 30
year old garage door. Just as the door was about closed, I heard a
loud pop. Turns out that the one of the wires that attaches the one
of the long springs to the door has broken, leaving me with only one
of the big springs still working. The opener will still open and
close the door, but I can tell it's working a harder than it used to.
How urgent is the need to replace the thick wire that attaches the
spring to the door? Is this something that a garage-door rookie can
do? I know garage door replacement is something best left to the
pros, but I'm hoping I can handle this repair on my own.


Extra strain on the motor will shorten its life - sometimes dramatically.

Yes, you can do it yourself.

Go to the box store and, if they don't have a repair kit, get twice as much
of the same guage wire rope as was destroyed, plus ample connectors.

Raise the door and prop it open with a board.

Restring the whole thing, following the path of the original or using the
unbroken one as a guide. Inspect the working spring/cable assemply for any
kinks, fraying, etc. If found, replace that cable connections also.

While you're working on it, string some cable THRU the spring and secure
both ends. This is a safety feature to protect your family, pets, neighbors,
and strangers walking down the street from the shrapnel if the spring
breaks.

There is a very small safety issue if the tension on the springs has been
released by the door being raised.

In article , "HeyBub" wrote:
Mike wrote:
So last night I hit the button on the remote control to close my 30
year old garage door. Just as the door was about closed, I heard a
loud pop. Turns out that the one of the wires that attaches the one
of the long springs to the door has broken, leaving me with only one
of the big springs still working. The opener will still open and
close the door, but I can tell it's working a harder than it used to.
How urgent is the need to replace the thick wire that attaches the
spring to the door? Is this something that a garage-door rookie can
do? I know garage door replacement is something best left to the
pros, but I'm hoping I can handle this repair on my own.


Extra strain on the motor will shorten its life - sometimes dramatically.

Yes, you can do it yourself.

Go to the box store and, if they don't have a repair kit, get twice as much
of the same guage wire rope as was destroyed, plus ample connectors.

Raise the door and prop it open with a board.

Restring the whole thing, following the path of the original or using the
unbroken one as a guide. Inspect the working spring/cable assemply for any
kinks, fraying, etc. If found, replace that cable connections also.

While you're working on it, string some cable THRU the spring and secure
both ends. This is a safety feature to protect your family, pets, neighbors,
and strangers walking down the street from the shrapnel if the spring
breaks.

There is a very small safety issue if the tension on the springs has been
released by the door being raised.


What he said. Been there, done that, just that way. Not difficult, and not
particularly dangerous, either -- much less so than torsion springs.

On Jul 2, 7:58*am, "HeyBub" wrote:
Mike wrote:
So last night I hit the button on the remote control to close my 30
year old garage door. *Just as the door was about closed, I heard a
loud pop. *Turns out that the one of the wires that attaches the one
of the long springs to the door has broken, leaving me with only one
of the big springs still working. *The opener will still open and
close the door, but I can tell it's working a harder than it used to.
How urgent is the need to replace the thick wire that attaches the
spring to the door? *Is this something that a garage-door rookie can
do? *I know garage door replacement is something best left to the
pros, but I'm hoping I can handle this repair on my own.

Extra strain on the motor will shorten its life - sometimes dramatically.

Yes, you can do it yourself.

Go to the box store and, if they don't have a repair kit, get twice as much
of the same guage wire rope as was destroyed, plus ample connectors.

Raise the door and prop it open with a board.

Restring the whole thing, following the path of the original or using the
unbroken one as a guide. Inspect the working spring/cable assemply for any
kinks, fraying, etc. If found, replace that cable connections also.

While you're working on it, string some cable THRU the spring and secure
both ends. This is a safety feature to protect your family, pets, neighbors,
and strangers walking down the street from the shrapnel if the spring
breaks.

There is a very small safety issue if the tension on the springs has been
released by the door being raised.

Though our garage was empty, so no injuries, when one of the springs
broke, it still did a lot of damage, it broke a healthy 2" X 4" in
half for one thing.
By all means secure those.

On 7/2/10 8:45 AM, Mike wrote:
So last night I hit the button on the remote control to close my 30
year old garage door. Just as the door was about closed, I heard a
loud pop. Turns out that the one of the wires that attaches the one
of the long springs to the door has broken, leaving me with only one
of the big springs still working. The opener will still open and
close the door, but I can tell it's working a harder than it used to.
How urgent is the need to replace the thick wire that attaches the
spring to the door? Is this something that a garage-door rookie can
do? I know garage door replacement is something best left to the
pros, but I'm hoping I can handle this repair on my own.

Thanks for any info...

Mike

Jeebus man, if you know so little about garage doors that you'd even
consider operating the door with only one spring, you'd better hire a
pro right quick!