Canadian Nissan Truck Club

My third garage door spring broke last week. Picked up another one and got to changing it one night. It worked going up the first time,but coming down,the guide wires on the sides got all tangled. Don't get this wire thing because the last two times I did it,never touched the wires at all and things were fine. Any thoughts?

Not sure without seeing it. Be careful, those springs can take your head off.

Yup, sure can. I'm thinking now the cables could be twisted. May need new ones. Great time of year for this.

The big doors at the shop occasionally break the spring.. They go off like a gunshot.

I've been told by the door company, that the main reason for this happening, is if the door is closed on something, like a pressurized garden hose for example, so as to hold one side up 1/2 inch or so versus the opposite side.

This causes the cables to not exert the same pressure on both sides of the spring, and cause it to break if weak.

The same thing might be happening to you, not necessarily that there is something under your door, but maybe the 2 sides aren't exerting equal force on the spring....

Are the cables winding up correctly?

They seem to wind up properly, but not totally sure. I will watch for it next time I try. I was thinking when I put the door down. I talked to one of the installers from the shop I bought the spring from. He thought I should load the springs more. Tighter, crank it more. Did 22 quarter cranks and the door came up nicely. The door guy said to crank another 8 times. I shall try it.

The springs sometimes break due to friction from rust. Not a bad idea to oil them every so often I have been told.

True, I have been greasing them.

Went at this again today. Did 32 1/4 cranks and the cable is staying on. Door is working with a slight adjustment.