I'm preparing to install a new garage door opener on a 2-car garage
with roll-up metal door. I'm concerned that the door may not be
properly balanced, and that may have led my old opener to wear out (it
was a 14-year-old Stanley, so it may have just been old age too).

The new opener instructions states that if I open the door 3 to 4
feet, it should stay open. My door will stay open if I open it about
3 1/2 feet, so it meets that criteria. But when the door is fully
closed, I have to pull pretty hard to get it to start to open, and it
only starts to get easier when I've raised it a couple of feet. I put
my bathroom scale under the door, and I weigh 35 pounds on one end, 42
pounds in the middle, and 44 pounds on the other end.

does this seem normal?
thanks,
paul

"Paul" wrote in message
om...
I'm preparing to install a new garage door opener on a 2-car garage
with roll-up metal door. I'm concerned that the door may not be
properly balanced, and that may have led my old opener to wear out (it
was a 14-year-old Stanley, so it may have just been old age too).

The new opener instructions states that if I open the door 3 to 4
feet, it should stay open. My door will stay open if I open it about
3 1/2 feet, so it meets that criteria. But when the door is fully
closed, I have to pull pretty hard to get it to start to open, and it
only starts to get easier when I've raised it a couple of feet. I put
my bathroom scale under the door, and I weigh 35 pounds on one end, 42
pounds in the middle, and 44 pounds on the other end.

does this seem normal?
thanks,
paul

Sounds heavy to me. Have you ever replaced the springs? They may be
stretched and not working the way they should be.

We have 10' high doors at the loading dock at work. I can lift them with
one hand.

Paul wrote:
I'm preparing to install a new garage door opener on a 2-car garage
with roll-up metal door. I'm concerned that the door may not be
properly balanced, and that may have led my old opener to wear out (it
was a 14-year-old Stanley, so it may have just been old age too).

The new opener instructions states that if I open the door 3 to 4
feet, it should stay open. My door will stay open if I open it about
3 1/2 feet, so it meets that criteria. But when the door is fully
closed, I have to pull pretty hard to get it to start to open, and it
only starts to get easier when I've raised it a couple of feet. I put
my bathroom scale under the door, and I weigh 35 pounds on one end, 42
pounds in the middle, and 44 pounds on the other end.

does this seem normal?
thanks,
paul

Sounds to me like the springs have stretched. If that is true, you may
not be able to adjust them, they may need to be replaced.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

"Paul" wrote in message
om...
I'm preparing to install a new garage door opener on a 2-car garage
with roll-up metal door. I'm concerned that the door may not be
properly balanced, and that may have led my old opener to wear out (it
was a 14-year-old Stanley, so it may have just been old age too).

The new opener instructions states that if I open the door 3 to 4
feet, it should stay open. My door will stay open if I open it about
3 1/2 feet, so it meets that criteria. But when the door is fully
closed, I have to pull pretty hard to get it to start to open, and it
only starts to get easier when I've raised it a couple of feet. I put
my bathroom scale under the door, and I weigh 35 pounds on one end, 42
pounds in the middle, and 44 pounds on the other end.

does this seem normal?
thanks,
paul

I have found that calling the garage door man in times like these has saved
me a lot of headaches. My brother decided to re tension his door and it
would not open after 4 hours of both of us screwing with it. On a Saturday
the garage door company came out and for $65.00 and 1 hour later it works
like a champ.

I know what an when to spend money on. For me this is one. Good luck

SQLit wrote:

I have found that calling the garage door man in times like these has
saved me a lot of headaches. My brother decided to re tension his
door and it would not open after 4 hours of both of us screwing with
it. On a Saturday the garage door company came out and for $65.00 and
1 hour later it works like a champ.

I know what an when to spend money on. For me this is one. Good luck

Lucky sod! There is a small, but non-zero, chance that a non-professional
will die while putzing with garage door springs.

Specifically, Dr. Joseph Ignace Guillotin discarded garage door springs in
1789 BECAUSE the damned things were a hazard to the operators of his
machine.

If you have extension springs they are over sprung (they are too strong for
your door). Secure the door in the open position, take the tension off the
springs and with some help lower the door onto a bathroom scale to get the
correct weight measurement.
If you have torsion springs then they are too long for your door. Get the
inside diameter (usually stamped on one of the cones), wire size (length of
ten coils will do) and the correct weight of the door and email it to me, I
will email you back the correct length springs you should have for your
door.
Rich
http://www.garage-door-hardware.com/contact.shtml
http://www.garage-door-hardware.com

"Paul" wrote in message
om...
I'm preparing to install a new garage door opener on a 2-car garage
with roll-up metal door. I'm concerned that the door may not be
properly balanced, and that may have led my old opener to wear out (it
was a 14-year-old Stanley, so it may have just been old age too).

The new opener instructions states that if I open the door 3 to 4
feet, it should stay open. My door will stay open if I open it about
3 1/2 feet, so it meets that criteria. But when the door is fully
closed, I have to pull pretty hard to get it to start to open, and it
only starts to get easier when I've raised it a couple of feet. I put
my bathroom scale under the door, and I weigh 35 pounds on one end, 42
pounds in the middle, and 44 pounds on the other end.

does this seem normal?
thanks,
paul

Paul wrote:
I'm preparing to install a new garage door opener on a 2-car garage
with roll-up metal door. I'm concerned that the door may not be
properly balanced, and that may have led my old opener to wear out (it
was a 14-year-old Stanley, so it may have just been old age too).

The new opener instructions states that if I open the door 3 to 4
feet, it should stay open. My door will stay open if I open it about
3 1/2 feet, so it meets that criteria. But when the door is fully
closed, I have to pull pretty hard to get it to start to open, and it
only starts to get easier when I've raised it a couple of feet. I put
my bathroom scale under the door, and I weigh 35 pounds on one end, 42
pounds in the middle, and 44 pounds on the other end.

does this seem normal?
thanks,
paul


I used to install doors, openers and do service so please humor me
here. First, are the springs above to door on a long circular tube? Or
are they on the side of the horizontal tracks? Second, you said that the
door blances about 3 1/2 feet off the floor. Does it stay open by itself
it its all the way open?

(Paul) wrote in message . com...
I'm preparing to install a new garage door opener on a 2-car garage
with roll-up metal door. I'm concerned that the door may not be
properly balanced, and that may have led my old opener to wear out (it
was a 14-year-old Stanley, so it may have just been old age too).

The new opener instructions states that if I open the door 3 to 4
feet, it should stay open. My door will stay open if I open it about
3 1/2 feet, so it meets that criteria. But when the door is fully
closed, I have to pull pretty hard to get it to start to open, and it
only starts to get easier when I've raised it a couple of feet. I put
my bathroom scale under the door, and I weigh 35 pounds on one end, 42
pounds in the middle, and 44 pounds on the other end.

does this seem normal?
thanks,
paul

No that would not be normal. Technically the door should weigh 0 lbs
when the door is balanced properly although there will probably be a
very small amount of weight pressure. The door should stop anywhere
you let go of it, but may drift an inch or two. Sounds like your
springs are fatigued to where they should be replaced or the door was
never balanced properly to begin with.

Doordoc
www.DoorsAndOpeners.com

John,

My garage door has a metal bar along the top, with torsion springs, and one
metal cable on each side that connects to the door. If I open the door all
the way, it stays open. So it seems to work fine if I open it 3 1/2 feet or
more, but less than that, and it will suddenly become heavy and close very
quickly (crash!). I measure 35 to 40 pounds force when it is closed.

thanks,
paul

rote:
I'm preparing to install a new garage door opener on a 2-car garage
with roll-up metal door. I'm concerned that the door may not be
properly balanced, and that may have led my old opener to wear out (it
was a 14-year-old Stanley, so it may have just been old age too).

The new opener instructions states that if I open the door 3 to 4
feet, it should stay open. My door will stay open if I open it about
3 1/2 feet, so it meets that criteria. But when the door is fully
closed, I have to pull pretty hard to get it to start to open, and it
only starts to get easier when I've raised it a couple of feet. I put
my bathroom scale under the door, and I weigh 35 pounds on one end, 42
pounds in the middle, and 44 pounds on the other end.

does this seem normal?
thanks,
paul


I used to install doors, openers and do service so please humor me
here. First, are the springs above to door on a long circular tube? Or
are they on the side of the horizontal tracks? Second, you said that the
door blances about 3 1/2 feet off the floor. Does it stay open by itself
it its all the way open?

responding to
http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ng-564262-.htm
garagepro wrote:
This has to be a command problem because I had the same problem. At first
I tried to have a friend who said that they know how to balence my garage
door. but once we closed it we could not open at all. I had to call the
professional. These were great showed up on time and repair my problem.

http://burlingtoncountygaragedoors.com/

garagepro wrote:
responding to
http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ng-564262-.htm
garagepro wrote:
This has to be a command problem because I had the same problem. At first
I tried to have a friend who said that they know how to balence my garage
door. but once we closed it we could not open at all. I had to call the
professional. These were great showed up on time and repair my problem.

http://burlingtoncountygaragedoors.com/

I've run into a couple good persons or company, that do a great inexpensive
service on garage doors.

Greg