Broken Garage Door

[lindy rig]

So one of the cables broke on my power garage door opener. Main spring in the middle, one pully on each side, with thin steel cables running down and hooking on the garage door itself. In order to get the door to fully close flush, I had to pull the other good cable off and then let the door down gently.

My question is: Is this a fairly easy fix? Anyone have experience with getting a new cable? Does the tension need to be readjusted?

[CAMAN]

I'd get a pro in there, those springs are under ALOT of tension and could very seriously hurt or kill you.

[echotrail]

I agree with caman, this is one job worth hiring out.

[WingDing2]

Same thing happened to me, called in a pro and $190 later it was all brand new, spring and cables plus adjustment. pretty cheap I thought.

[jeffreyd]

Yep if the cable broke, the spring is not far behind along with the other cable. Depending on the size of the spring and door, some have to be wound nearly 10 times to get the proper tension. That baby will just flat ruin your day if it lets go. Hire someone to do it. Not worth the headache unless you do it for a living and then I would have someone else do it.

[paul pachowicz]

I got away from those cables years ago. If a guy can, I think you are better off converting to the torsion spring.

[CAMAN]

I got away from those cables years ago. If a guy can, I think you are better off converting to the torsion spring.

From how I read it, I believe torsion springs are what Lindy Rig has. And they still do have cables wrapped on a drum and running on each side of the door down to the bottom.

[lindy rig]

Yep, I think you are right CAMAN. Thanks for the input guys, I guess I'll bite the bullet and call someone out.

[311Hemi]

Yep, I think you are right CAMAN. Thanks for the input guys, I guess I'll bite the bullet and call someone out.

You will pretty much have a new garage when everything is said and done, minus the garage door!

[lindy rig]

You are right. The garage door itself it getting somewhat questionable too. A couple of the panels seem like they are rotting. Just priced a new steel insulated door and that runs $800 to $1100 installed and so that may have to wait!

[DTro]

I had a spring break last year, and from all the research and opinions I got here, it was a pretty easy choice to call in a pro. No regrets there at all and if you are in the Metro area, I can recommend a guy as I was very impressed with his service.

However, I had a cable come off the pulley on my third door, and couple of months ago and had a friend who convinced me that it’s a piece of cake and he would do it.

After watching him and understanding how the mechanicals work and with the right tools. I’m very confident I will be able to repair it if it ever breaks again.

The hardest part selecting the right spring, and finding a place to buy one, most places don’t even sell them due to the danger in installing them.

[311Hemi]

You are right. The garage door itself it getting somewhat questionable too. A couple of the panels seem like they are rotting. Just priced a new steel insulated door and that runs $800 to $1100 installed and so that may have to wait!

I was going to ask about that...but figured it might be put off with all the other improvements as of late.

BTW, you can get a 30% tax credit on an insulated door if you have it installed in 2009 or 2010 if you have any remaining credit left of the $1500 max.

[lindy rig]

BTW, you can get a 30% tax credit on an insulated door if you have it installed in 2009 or 2010 if you have any remaining credit left of the $1500 max.

Huh... good to know thanks

[cbrooks]

I use to install and work on mainly overhead garage doors for seven or eight years. The first thing to do is release all the tension on the spring BEFORE you try to remove the cable from the bottom bracket. Its a easy cheap fix ,I just need to know some things about the spring so I can tell you how to take the tension off without losing a finger.

Im assuming its a torsion stlye spring. If your standing at the back of your garage looking at the torsion spring. You can see that its sitting on a shaft that runs the width of the garage. There is bracket that is attach to the spring and the headroom above the garage. On what side of the bracket is the spring on left or right? Normally its on the right side if its a single spring. This will tell me what way the tension on the spring pulling.

[lindy rig]

CB - I already had someone come out and fix. Yes, it was a torsion style spring. But thank you for the information.