Farmall Cub

I had troubles with my 12 X 12 shop door on Saturday and spent a lot of the after noon trying to get it safely lowered back down.

So, I was bummed out, that I had spent almost 700 bucks on it last September having a broken spring replaced, and now it was messed up again.
Last year, we replaced both springs, as they were 26 years old, It worked great for a few months, but then began giving trouble again.

As much as I hated to call the over head door company again, I do not really know much about them, and adjusting the springs 12 feet in the air seemed like a bad idea, anyway.

So this morning I called, and got some good news. The lady said their work carries a 12 moth warranty, and if its not working right, as long as the problem was not customer caused, they would fix it.

I said great, come look at it when its convenient, and we can sort it out then. I hated for them to make a special trip, as they are 60 miles one way form here.
The Lady said, they have a job in my area on Friday, and it should be a simple fix. We set up Friday as repair day.

I guess they got a call out for another job this morning that was unexpected, so I got a call at noon, saying they were sitting in my driveway, and would fix it if that was ok.
Well long story short, they guy was really nice, and good at what he did. He discovered the cable drum had worked loose, and the door was binding.

Door is fixed, works great, it took him less than and hour, and no charge. Covered under the warranty from last years work.

So it looked pretty simple what he did, and I feel a little helpless, not fixing it my self. I have no experience with these springs, and I'm not as young as I once was.

It is great to deal with a company that backs up their work. It was expensive, the first time around, but I think is was worth the cost.

Anyone work on their own doors? Looked like a good way to get hurt?

It IS a good way to get hurt, if you don’t know what you’re doing. I call the experts when I have any problems with my doors. I have 5 of them.

I agree with Don. Those springs canbe under a lot of tension, and can bite you if you don't know what you're doing.

Ed

I’ve always installed and repaired my own but like everyone else, I’m getting older. I no longer trust myself on tall ladders, it scares the heck out of me. A couple months ago, I had to replace the control board in my barn door opener. Since I can’t fly, I had to find another way. I have always wanted a platform step and this was my excuse for getting one. I’ve never felt safer on a ladder.

Gary Dotson wrote:I’ve always installed and repaired my own but like everyone else, I’m getting older. I no longer trust myself on tall ladders, it scares the heck out of me. A couple months ago, I had to replace the control board in my barn door opener. Since I can’t fly, I had to find another way. I have always wanted a platform step and this was my excuse for getting one. I’ve never felt safer on a ladder.

Show us what you have, Gary.

I have changed my own garage door springs in the past. But I have reached a point where I don't really want to mess with them. I have a door that has been randomly misbehaving for a while. I think the fix is to add a little bit to the spring tension. I suspect this is a precursor to a spring breaking. So far, my approach has been to put up with it.

I think garage doors are an irksome design to begin with. They are the only devices I can think of where the installation and adjustment of a big spring has to be done in the position with the maximum tension.

Hey glad Im not the only one who is chicken to mess with these big doors.
I have actually installed one of the smaller ones, only 7 foot high, with conventual style springs. Its mostly the height of this one, and not having knowledge of the direction those springs are wound, and how tight.
Glad its fixed, and its been a long time since it worked as good as it is now.

I've replaced several torsion springs on residential doors. You need to be very cautious and use the correct tools.

Commercial doors should be left to the Pros

Don, just google podium step ladder.

Thanks, Gary.