Anyone install garage doors that has been hurt by winding the torsion springs?

Question

Garage door installer.

Answer 1

Here's a great web site on torsion springs. (See link below)

When my torsion spring broke a couple of years ago I entertained thoughts of doing it myself and finally called a repair man. The guy came out and did the job in under 45 minutes, and as I watched him (If I call a repair man, I watch what he's doing) I realized that I would have been fiddling with the job literally for hours and hours. It likely would have taken me at least 4 or 5 hours to do it myself, not fun in the middle of the winter with the temp around zero. (I suspect most springs will break in the winter when the metal is more brittle because of the cold.)

The springs truly are dangerous. There is a tremendous amount of energy stored in a spring and usually only one is broken (no energy in the broken spring.) It is recommended that you replace both of them though, so there will be one with energy stored in it.

If you try it yourself, make sure you get the proper tools to tension the spring. They don't look very expensive so it'd be well worth the expense. You don't want to try it with anything but the right tool.

As for injuries here's a quote from a web site concerning torsion springs:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), reports that an estimated 8,780 finger injuries are associated with garage door accidents each year. In 1996, 8,530 injuries were reported, including 190 amputations, 1,000 crushing injuries, and 1,400 fractures.
(See 2nd link below)
good luck

Answer 2

I install and service doors for a living, First you shouldn't try to wind springs unless you are very carefull and are mechanically inclined. You could wind the springs 1/2 turn with the door open, I have done this to fix a door stuck open and unwound, but it would be very hard for you to access the springs, and to get the cable tension the same on both sides. I woud recommend to wind the springs with the door closed, and follow the manufactures instructions. Most important make sure the bars you use to wind the springs fit snug in the winding cone, if they don't they will slip out and you can lose a finger or worse. Or buy a Wayne Dalton door they use a spring system you can wind with a drill.

Answer 3

During the good ole days everyone used door bars to wind and unwind door springs.I've seen people thrown 20 to thirty feet and walk away while others ended up with busted heads.Now thanks to innovative thinking they make assembly's that have a clutch tensioner where you use a battery powered drill to wind or unwind the springs.

Answer 4

I can not personally say I have been but the potential is there and the consequences are sufficient that no thinking person would do this. Rather they would leave this job to someone with the correct tools and experience.

If one of these springs gets away from someone they can pack sufficient force to kill.

Answer 5

Got my fingers stuck between the garage door frame, and a 3\8" ratchet extenision I was using.
Didn't break anything, but it sure hurt like hell.

Answer 6

Not only have there been many people hurt doing that, there have been a few killed.