Torsion springs are an essential component of today’s garage door. It’s a straightforward piece of mechanical hardware that uses a counterbalance assembly to balance the garage door’s weight. The torsion springs relax when the garage door is opened, and the accumulated torque (energy) assists in lifting the hefty garage door. The torsion spring mechanism creates storage of torque as the door closes, ready to be used when the door is released and the springs unwind. A cycle is one full opening and closing of the garage door or one unwinding and winding of the torsion spring. The spring may break once it has completed its intended life cycle. A professional garage door technician will need to replace the torsion spring at this time.
The most important job at SSC is to manufacture the correct torsion spring for your garage door repair or replacement. SSC has the garage door spring that is perfect for you to finish your work, from daily stock springs to specialized replacement springs.
The information needed to order torsion springs from SSC can be found in the recommendations below.
WORKING WITH THE SPRING WIND
The SPRING WIND, sometimes known as a wound, is one of the most generally misunderstood aspects concerning springs. The direction in which the wire is wrapped to produce a spring is referred to as spring wind. The direction the spring will uncoil as the door travels up and down can be determined by the wind. The spring cones could have threads that match the wind of the spring or be universally mounted.
A left-hand wound spring is positioned on the right side of the garage door and a right-hand wound spring is mounted on the left side of the garage door shaft in a typical garage door setup. There are exceptions to this rule, however for basic engineering, it is suggested.
The spring’s winding cones are usually color-coded to aid in determining the spring’s wind. Right-wound springs have red cones, whereas left-wound springs have black cones. Because these colors might fade or disappear, it’s critical to be able to discern the wind direction of spring without them.
Hold the end of the spring in your left hand as a helpful trick. A left coiled spring has the end coil running in the same way from your fingertip to your thumb (shaped like the letter C). If it’s the other way around, you’ve got a properly wound spring.
TORSION OR EXTENSION SPRING LENGTH DETERMINATION
Finding the length is perhaps the most critical step in measuring a garage door spring. The winding capacity of the spring is exactly proportional to its length. If you have a heavy garage door, for example, you’ll need a spring that can lift the garage door. To determine the length, measure from spring end coil to spring end coil, excluding the cones, during the torsion spring measurement. Spring length measurements should be accurate to the quarter-inch mark.
Note: Torsion springs cannot be measured while they are in use. An open garage door, even if just partially open, will extend the spring and result in an erroneous reading. Even a’resting’ spring that has been coiled to the garage door will be stretched beyond its initial size. Before measuring the length of a spring, it should be entirely unwound.
IDENTIFYING A TORSION SPRING’S INSIDE DIAMETER (ID)
The interior diameter of torsion springs is the next step in the measurement process (ID). Measure from inside spring coil to inside spring coil with a tape measure or caliber. The diameter of the spring is the outcome of this calculation. For precision, all measurements should be taken in inches and to the nearest 1/16″.
If the spring you’re measuring has spring fittings (cones or drums), you can double-check its ID by looking for numerals carved into the hardware. For 1-3/4″ ID torsion springs, a 175 will be seen on spring fittings. The ID of a torsion spring is usually a standard width.
TORSION SPRING WIRE SIZE DETERMINATION
The wire size of the garage door torsion spring is the final stage in measuring a garage door torsion spring. A spring wire gauge, pocket wire gauge, or a good ‘ole math method can all be used to determine the wire size. The wire size of a torsion spring can be determined using any of the three ways.
Insert the wire gauge into the spring and count twenty (20) coils if using a spring wire gauge. Look at the numbered marks on the wire gauge to identify the wire size once you’ve reached the twentieth coil.
If you’re using a pocket wire gauge, match the relevant coil key to your wire size to determine the correct wire size.
You may always use this trusted math formula to find the wire size of the torsion spring if you don’t have a spring wire gauge or a pocket wire gauge. Count 10 or 20 coils on the torsion spring to begin. With your tape measure, measure the coils. Divide the measurement by the total number of coils you counted (10 or 20). The wire size for the spring you just measured is the answer to the equation. To the nearest 1/16 of an inch, measure.
EXAMPLE OF 10 COILS: 10 Coils = 2-7/8 (2.875) Inches
Wire Size: 2.875 / 10 = 0.289
EXAMPLE OF 20 COILS: 20 Coils = 5 INCHES
Wire Size: 5/20 =.250
ARE YOU A VISUAL STUDENT? TRY SSC EDUCATION SOLUTIONS
SSC has spent over a decade establishing an online video training platform to assist professional garage door installers and dealers in learning the ins and outs of the business. The information above is covered in our INT05:Measuring a Spring Course, which includes an easy-to-follow instructional video and a brief quiz that may be submitted to IDEA for CEU credit. SSC clients can access more training films on a number of topics, including introductory courses, residential and commercial installations, customer support, and management.
ORDERING TORSION SPRINGS FROM SSC:
To ensure that your new springs are the exact size, you’ll need to have the following information on available when you contact SSC. Our sales team can help you determine if you can use a standard torsion spring size or if you’ll need a custom torsion spring to satisfy your requirements. Our sales team will be able to help you identify the torsion springs you require if you provide the necessary measurements for spring wind, length, inside diameter, and wire size.
Disclaimer on Safety: There may be safety precautions that our actors do not take in order to witness all operations in their entirety. Make sure to follow any and all safety precautions, and consult your manufacturer’s installation instructions for further information. The first priority is your health and safety. Failure to comprehend and implement the course’s recommendations could result in property damage, personal harm, or death. While every attempt is made to provide correct information and guidance, it is difficult to anticipate all conceivable door situations. As a result, the user accepts that use of this video, its products, and information is at your own risk. Service Spring will not be liable for any property damage, personal injury/death, or other loss or damage resulting from your use of the information and products presented in this video. All content on this site is provided “as is,” with no express or implied warranties. For the use of information and items purchased, the user undertakes all responsibility and risk. If you are unsure about your capacity to complete the work securely, we recommend that you hire another door professional to finish the job.
