Author Topic: Garage Door Tension Cables Need Re-Attached  (Read 5326 times)

WFUDEAC

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Garage Door Tension Cables Need Re-Attached
« on: June 14, 2013, 03:24:34 PM »
The power went out and I told my wife to just manually open the garage door so she could run an errand. Well somewhere in the process the tension cables got too loose and proceeded to tangle. I got the tension cables untangled and completely released, but have no idea how to reinstall. The Owner's manual isnt much help either as their is no detail on the tension system. We have an "Elite Series Security+ Garage Door Opener Model 3800PLD".

Anybody have some experience with reattaching the tension cables? I think I should be mechanically inclined enough to fix it without calling a repair person.

Spork

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Re: Garage Door Tension Cables Need Re-Attached
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2013, 04:22:05 PM »
I am guessing here that the spring unwound.  Is that the case?

Or are we just talking about the doohickey that attaches the door to the door opener.  (I.e., the attachment to the belt/chain/whatever).

If it's the latter, it's probably simple and you have some sort of mechanism that latches onto the chain/belt.  Mine is twitchy and has to be "just so" to grab on.  There is usually a rope/chain that releases/attaches it.

If it's the former, there are going to be a whole bunch of people that say "OH MY GOD!  DON'T TOUCH IT."  If that scares you, call someone.

I've unwound/rewound my spring several times and I'm still breathing.  You'll need a couple of 2 ft sections of steel -- probably about a half inch thick.  You'll need to figure out how many turns your spring needs (based on the spring size and the weight of the door).  It likely has a little 4-socket turner with clamps that clamp onto a center bar.  Effectively you'll need to use the 2 steel bars as levers to hold/move the turner.   Hold it with the steel, loosen the bolts so it will turn and give it a quarter turn, put in 2nd steel bar, repeat.... until you've got enough turns in the spring.

IT IS A LITTLE DANGEROUS.  If you let go, that spring will send those steel bars flying across the room (and through anything in its path -- possibly even you.)  Once you get it where you want it, tighten down the 2 bolts and you're there.

This is probably a pretty abbreviated description.  Look for a video on youtube ... once you see it done, it makes sense.

BlueMR2

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Re: Garage Door Tension Cables Need Re-Attached
« Reply #2 on: June 14, 2013, 05:40:56 PM »
I'm in that industry and generally recommend that people not do it themselves.  Taking safety seriously and being properly prepared greatly enhances your chances of living and keeping all your extremities (I've met some pros that are missing fingers from garage door mishaps).

This youtube channel has some videos that might help keep you uninjured should you insist upon doing it yourself:  http://www.youtube.com/user/youdoitstore

Spork

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Re: Garage Door Tension Cables Need Re-Attached
« Reply #3 on: June 14, 2013, 05:54:11 PM »
I'm in that industry and generally recommend that people not do it themselves.  Taking safety seriously and being properly prepared greatly enhances your chances of living and keeping all your extremities (I've met some pros that are missing fingers from garage door mishaps).

The same can be said for numerous tasks.  I've met lots of 8-9 fingered farmers, woodworkers, mechanics, electricians, etc.

I do think it is a good idea to take safety seriously and to have an idea of what you're doing.   That has not stopped me from doing tractor work, woodwork, mechanical work, electrical work, etc.  Life is full of danger.  Probably the most dangerous thing you can do is get in the car and drive to the grocery store.  You gotta learn to live with it and reduce your risk where you can.

That said: if this sort of thing makes you nervous, hire someone to do it.  Do a good check on the company you hire.  This is an area that has historically had a decent share of scammers in it.  (That's not a slam on you BlueMR2 -- there are also tons of companies that do GOOD work.)  The city I used to live in had about 35 companies listed in the yellow pages for garage doors.  At least 20 of them were the same scammy company.  You'd literally call one, call the second one (and get the same person), call a third one (and get the same person), etc.   20/20 (or one of those) actually did a story on them (and I think it was my old town they used as bait.   ...and the city I live in now has one door company with a really good, solid reputation.  A scammy company moved in and named themselves **almost** the same name as the first company to draw their business away.
« Last Edit: June 14, 2013, 05:56:17 PM by Spork »

AboutTime

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Re: Garage Door Tension Cables Need Re-Attached
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2013, 07:10:02 PM »
This is not my area of expertise but I would suggest hiring a pro to do this.  My uncle nearly killed himself trying to do this on his own one time.  There is a shit ton of torque built up in the spring.

BlueMR2

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Re: Garage Door Tension Cables Need Re-Attached
« Reply #5 on: June 15, 2013, 10:04:44 AM »
This is not my area of expertise but I would suggest hiring a pro to do this.  My uncle nearly killed himself trying to do this on his own one time.  There is a shit ton of torque built up in the spring.

Well, maybe not quite that much.  However, it is enough that a homeowner trying to do it himself a few years back (using the wrong tools) had a tool break, spin around, punch through his chest and kill him.  Screwdrivers do NOT make acceptable winding bars...