Hi everyone. I've been dropping in here for a while now, and find you guys really are a wealth of information! It's always good advice too! I read the threads about the garage door. We have one that's just plain crooked, and now the springs have popped! My husband bought all new harware, but the garage door just won't even up that last few inches. It's becoming a nightmare, as I need that automatic door because I have severe rheumatoid arthritis, and can't manage it manually. Does anybody have any pointers on what he's doing wrong? Also, if I can help answer questions about finishing cabinets, have at it! My husband does it for a living.

Wendy, but you can call me Windy (only my Mom calls me Wendy) ;:)

-- Wendy Godfrey (windyz@aol.com), January 13, 2002

Answers

You probably need to completely remove it and the tracks so you can reset those evenly. A BIG word of caution here. Those springs you need to set can be vicious. Many a finger has been lost to those things. People even lose their life working with those things. They can be VERY dangerous. Good luck with your project. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), January 13, 2002.

When you say crooked do you mean the door, with the new hardware attached, does not fit the opening? Or does the door not fully open, or close, when you run the opener? I assume from the use of springs the door is a solid lift (not segmented)?

-- Joe (CactusJoe001@AOL.com), January 13, 2002.

A garage doors springs are attached when the door is up all the way. On a segmented door there are rollers at each segments end that ride in a track. The track must be solidly mounted and each side must be equal distances apart the entire length, vertically and horizonally. Lubrication is needed in the track where the rollers contact it, chassie grease is used; a squirt of oil on the rollers dosen't hurt. With the door in the up position, make sure both springs have the same amount of cable showing, check the cable for fraying, lube the cable's pullies also. In the up position, the door must be proped or it will slam down. The door must be useable by an ablebodied person before the automatic opener can work correctly. I am not familiar with the single piece doors.

Never release a spring that is streched, release only when proped and the spring is at slack.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 13, 2002.

DH gives this advice....get an automatic door opener company over to give an estimate on fixing it. Working with those springs can be very dangerous.

-- Ardie /WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), January 13, 2002.

Thanks everybody for your help. My husband read your replies, and realizes that he's going to have to take the garage door down in order to remedy the problem. I'm glad you all said something about the springs being dangerous--he needs both hands! Thanks again, Windy

-- wendy godfrey (windyz@aol.com), January 13, 2002.

Wendy, If your husband must take down the door, please make sure that he does NOT jack around with the springs. Those SPRINGS CAN KILL YOU! Better to spend a couple of hundred dollars than have him killed. Once the door is working ok, he will be able to install an opener by himself.

-- clove (clovis97@Yahoo.com), January 13, 2002.