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    ericr's Avatar
    ericr Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Apr 15, 2008, 12:42 PM
    Garage door is uneven
    My garage door is up higher on the right so when I close it there is still a 2 inch gap. If I put all my body weight on it I can get it to shut but it won't stay. It is an electric door and is the screw type not the chain. Anyone have any ideas.
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
     
    #2

    Apr 15, 2008, 04:38 PM
    What type of spring system do you have? You probably have the torsion bar type. The kind with a round bar with a spring wrapped around it. One of the pulleys has slipped, the one on the left, and is not providing as much lift as the one on the right.
    To correct you must release all of the tension on the spring, reset the pulleys to provide equal lift and retention the spring.

    Note this can be very dangerous, you can be seriously injured. If you are not comfortable doing this call a garage door company.

    With the door closed and using two round rods that will fit into the holes in the spring tension hub, loosen and release the tension. A 10" long 3/8 rachet extension works well for rods. With one of the rods in one of the holes slowly unscrew the set screws. Be prepared to take the tension of the spring onto the rod. After the screws are fully loosened, let the spring turn about 1/8 turn, insert the other rod in the next hole and remove the first rod and let the spring turn more. Using this procedure release all of the tension on the spring.

    Loosen the set screw on the pulley with the slack in the cable and adjust so that both have equal tension.
    Retention the spring just as you released the tension. The tension on the spring should be just about, but not quite enough, to lift the door.

    Be very careful, very careful.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
     
    #3

    Apr 15, 2008, 04:42 PM
    A certain part of me wishes Harold had not been so detailed about how to rewind a torsion spring. You might try it and crack your head open. I know how to do this work but frequently call upon the guys who do it every day just to save my own neck. Harold is quite accurate with his process so if your feel lucky, well do yaa punk, (just kidding Dirty Harry) give it a try.
    ericr's Avatar
    ericr Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #4

    Apr 16, 2008, 04:43 AM
    Thanks, I think I will just call a professional. That sounds too risky. Thanks for the detailed instructions, that way I can at least know how to fix it so someone doesn't try to feed me a bunch of bull and charged me a service call. Thanks again and I will let you know how it goes.

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