As a rule of thumb, it is generally 4 quarter turns per foot. So for a 7 ft. tall door, you will need approximately 28 quarter turns. Granted door weights do vary among other variables.
For every foot of height of your garage door, you will need four times the tension. For example, if you have 8-foot doors you will need to make exactly 32 turns on your spring (8×4=32). If you want to tighten the spring tension, use winding bars and move them upwards.
Torsion springs should be wound four quarter turns per foot of door height, plus an extra two turns. Once you're done winding your springs, keep a winding rod resting on the garage door header and tighten the set screws on the spring with a socket wrench.
When the springs are not properly balanced, one side of the door may be heavier than the other, causing the door to move unevenly. Rumbling noises: If you hear loud creaking, popping or banging noises when you open or close your garage door, this could be a sign that the springs need tension adjustment.
To make matters worse, a spring that's too big will cause your door to open faster than it should. In extreme cases, the door can open with enough force to knock children or unprepared adults over when they attempt to open the door.
This difference of 42 inches - half the door height - is the spring stretch. This spring would be designated 25-42-100 because it is 25" long, it stretches 42" beyond the 25" length, and the 100 is for the 100 pounds of pull on each spring.
Ensure the U-bolts are fully tightened and roller door is still strapped and wrapped. Rotate the door two full turns towards the door opening, this will tension the springs.
Signs Your Garage Door Springs Need Adjustment
Here are some telltale signs to watch for: Self-Movement: If the door moves independently after being stopped, it shows excess spring tension. Heavy Feel: When lifting manually, a door that feels heavy suggests that the springs aren't properly counterbalancing the weight.
Garage doors with torsion spring systems can have one or two springs. The number of springs you need will depend on the weight of the door. If you live in a new construction home and are having problems with your door have a professional check out your door.
Look at the torsion spring winding cone. Right hand wound springs coil clockwise from the winding cone. Left wound springs coil counter clockwise from the winding cone.
Tighten the chain until it rests 1/4-inch to a 1/2-inch above the base of the rail. Be careful not to over-tighten, since this could cause the chain to break. The chain should be tight but still flexible.
Side-mounted or torsion springs for a garage door should allow it to be lifted manually, even if there is a wear and tear issue. If you can't even do this, it's almost certain your springs are broken.
Garage Door Chain Tension Adjustment. To achieve proper chain tension, you must release the door from the opener before making any adjustments. When the chain is properly adjusted the chain will be 1/2" (for T-Rail) or 1/4 " (for Square Rail) above the base of the rail at its midpoint.
Winding 7.25 turns * 36.6 in/lb. produce a torque of approx. 265 in/lbs. per spring.
If your door is 7ft high then we recommend starting off at 31 Quarter turns on each springs. If you have an 8ft door then start at 34 Quarter turns. When you put your winding bars in your springs and push up this is a quarter turn, simply do this the recommended amount of times on each spring.
When properly installed, your springs can last approximately 10,000 cycles. One cycle includes both the opening and closing of the door. Technically speaking, your springs should last between 7 to 10 years. However, this depends on how often you use your garage door.
Personal Injury – Springs that exert too much force when your garage door is opened could also pose a danger to you and other members of your household. If the door retracts too quickly, it could bounce when it reaches the top and hit any people or pets in the vicinity on its way back down.
Lift the door 3-4 feet off the ground. Release the door. If balanced it should stay in place, supported entirely by its springs. If the door slowly rises upwards or falls to the floor gently, this is acceptable.
Torsion Spring Inside Diameter and Overall Length - In many cases the inside diameter of the torsion spring will be indicated on the stationary cone in between the two springs at the midpoint of the door. “1.75” means the inside diameter is 1 ¾ inches. “2” means the inside diameter is two inches etc.
While the most common reason garage doors springs break is general wear and tear, on average, garage door springs typically last between 7 to 9 years or approximately 10,000 cycles (one cycle is a full open and close of the door).
Undersized torsion spring length can't support garage doors
Undersized torsion springs won't hold the door in place or move it up or down and could collapse under the tremendous weight. For example, if you try to open the garage door, it will fall back down and harm anything underneath it.