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Was sitting in the office reading and heard a weird loud cracking noise. Looked in the basement and then the garage then out back to see whats going on. All looked normal. Went back to reading and forgot about it. Later my wife comes home and entering through the front door ask "What going on with the garage door? It wouldnt open." Upon inspection I found this.











The surprising thing was how heavy the door is when you dont have the assistance of the spring. My 68 is trapped inside as I cant lift the door!



So for those that ran across this problem already, can I do it myself, will I need a friend or should I call a pro?





Sincerely

garage inmate 968

[quote name='rhudeboye' post='56016' date='Jul 8 2008, 07:51 PM']Was sitting in the office reading and heard a weird loud cracking noise. Looked in the basement and then the garage then out back to see whats going on. All looked normal. Went back to reading and forgot about it. Later my wife comes home and entering through the front door ask "What going on with the garage door? It wouldnt open." Upon inspection I found this.











The surprising thing was how heavy the door is when you dont have the assistance of the spring. My 68 is trapped inside as I cant lift the door!



So for those that ran across this problem already, can I do it myself, will I need a friend or should I call a pro?





Sincerely

garage inmate 968[/quote]

had this happen on my parents garage while I was living at home...



we called a pro, and I'd suggest the same.

I can help but laugh at the fact you can't open the garage. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

We've been garage door opener for 4 years so opening it manually is comonplace.

In your situation I'm with Saxman, get a pro.

That way if he screws up and damages your car you get to sue! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

Get a pro, those springs could kill.

[quote name='Lord_Galva' post='56021' date='Jul 9 2008, 12:16 AM']I can help but laugh at the fact you can't open the garage. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />[/quote]



It's not that I'm not use to doing it manually. W/ or w/o a garage door opener the trmendous tension of the spring aids in lifting the door. The garage door opener cannot lift the full weight of the door resting on the ground. But Im guessing if I activate the opener and help in lifting then perhaps I can free my car... Unless the unit cant hold up the door on its own, then I'm stuck holding a door over my head.

but there is good news in all of this, no ? the force of the break could have snapped some other metal piece of the garage hardware and send it flying at 100mph straight into into the 968 <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> that's the first thing that came to mind soon as I started reading this thread. glad there was no collateral damage - I'd hire a pro also, may cost more but let them take the risk of a snapped wrist bone <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

The broken spring is common. Call someone in to do it - its not worth the hassle.



Anyone who has not dealt with a broken spring doesn't understand how hard the door is to open. I used my floor jack to lift it high enough to get some leverage on it. But be careful, the door comes down really fast too!

[quote name='Eric_K' post='56054' date='Jul 9 2008, 09:53 AM']The broken spring is common. Call someone in to do it - its not worth the hassle.



Anyone who has not dealt with a broken spring doesn't understand how hard the door is to open. I used my floor jack to lift it high enough to get some leverage on it. But be careful, the door comes down really fast too![/quote]



True. I also had no idea. This being my 1st home w/ a garage, I assumed the doors were like any other. I know I can lift 265lb. yet a friend and I tried to lift it and it didn't budge.



Guess I'd better start making some calls.



Thanx

I'm assuming you pulled the emergency cord first before trying to lift it?

[quote name='banditsc' post='56066' date='Jul 9 2008, 11:51 AM']I'm assuming you pulled the emergency cord first before trying to lift it?[/quote]



Theres an emergency cord?



<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> just kidding. Yes, cord pulled as shown in the pic.



Is there some type of maintenance to be done to extend the life of these springs? as you can see mine has been neglected (rust).

Not to beat a dead horse, but if you have even seen how installers tension the new springs, you would not want to do it yourself, nor would you probably have the correct tools, which basically are long steel rods that are inserted in successive holes in the spring retainers and then tightened hand-over-hand. One slip and you have flying steel bars.



I have my installer come out and re-tension my springs about every two years to ease the load on the garage door opener. Like any spring, they "sag" a bit over time and need readjusted.



I give my springs a coat of WD40 every now and then to reduce rusting. Unfortunately this does cause dust to adhere to them but it wipes off easily.



Tom

If it was a single-width door, you'd be able to lift it without the spring assist - but it's still pretty heavy. I wouldn't attempt to lift a double-width door without (significant) assistance. Get the pro involved.

[quote name='gryphon' post='56076' date='Jul 9 2008, 02:12 PM']if you have even seen how installers tension the new springs, you would not want to do it yourself, nor would you probably have the correct tools, which basically are long steel rods that are inserted in successive holes in the spring retainers and then tightened hand-over-hand. One slip and you have flying steel bars.[/quote]



Now thats an eye opener. Before that explanation I was asking myself, how hard could it be? I went out to see how it attached and assumed I could hoist it up and mount it with a little help from a friend, then attache the cables at the end of the door. P.O.C.



I see the openings for the rods that you mentioned at the end of the broken spring (See pic). Understanding the weight of my double door and that the spring is "loaded" manually helps put things in perspective i.e. broken arm.



Thanx Tom

Rhudeboy,

I had the same thing happen to me in 2006. I had a buddy help me lift the door and I wedge it open with a 2x4 until the repair man came.



I used Precision Garage Doors (http://precisiondoorbaltimore.garagedoorlocal.com/) to fix my spring. They we're able to come out the next day and the installer was done in about a hour. There prices were about average but they were fast. He told me that the builders usually use a light weight two spring system wich is the cheapest option, and they go bad afetr 3 years. He replaced the spring mechanism with a single heavy duty spring, realigned all tracks and rollers, and gave me some lubricant and rail grease to use on the garage twice a year. I believe I also got a 15 year warranty.



Good luck

[quote name='BigL2U' post='56127' date='Jul 10 2008, 12:00 PM']Rhudeboy,

I had the same thing happen to me in 2006.

I used Precision Garage Doors[/quote]



Ive called MD garage doors, Percision, the garage door group, bmore garage doors and about 3 others. What a racket the garage repair biz is. For any in my shoes or referring to this thread down the road, here is what I found to be important.



Cost of spring (range from $16- $380)

cost of labor ($29 - $300)

warranty on spring (6months -10 yrs)

cycle rating on the spring (open then close is one cycle) (5,000 -55,000)



The gaps in quality and price is insane and a guy could really get burnt if he doesnt call around and ask the right questions.

After many calls and questions I went w/ precision which just edged out MD garage. $30 more expensive but 3 more years on the warranty.



Precision has the best spring out of all! 55K cycles w/ a 10yr warranty, no one else had over 25K cycles.

Precision was the 2nd most expensive of 6 companies but they seem to know and back their product and as mentioned, they refresh and tighten your whole outfit.



Finally their fast. I decided to go with them at 11:50am got a call at 1:45pm saying they'll be at my house at 3:30. So Now I'm waiting and working from home (well, at the moment goofing off from home but the same way I goof off at wk.)



I'll be snapping pics when they arrive.