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How To Measure Springs

How To Measure Springs

2022-08-30

How To Measure Torsion Springs

Torsion springs require multiple measurements in order to determine what spring will best fit your garage door needs. These include the wire diameter, inside diameter, and length of the spring. 

The first step in determining which torsion spring is needed is to measure your broken spring. To do so, count out 20 coils and use a measuring tape to measure the distance from the beginning of the spring to the 20th coil. From here you will take the measurement and divide it by 20. This determines the diameter of the spring.

Most torsion spring coils fall somewhere near 5 inches, it is however very important that the measurement be precise. Being off even a fraction can throw off the accuracy and cause the wrong spring to be ordered. 

The inside diameter is a much easier measurement to accomplish. This measurement is often found written on the winding cone or stationary cone attached to the spring. The measurement will be a letter followed by a number such as p-200. This identified the spring as a two-inch diameter. It can also be found in traditional measurements such as 1 ½”. 

Now that we have the diameter, we need to identify the overall length of the torsion spring. To measure the overall length of the spring, one must first remove the spring from the garage door system.

From here take a tape measurer and measure end to end of the garage door spring. Although accurate measurements are important, this measurement is one that can be slightly off and still be okay.

However, we should note that any more than ¾ of an inch off may result in ordering a garage door spring that is not the appropriate size. 

The next step in determining what size garage door torsion spring you need is to identify if your torsion spring is a left or right-hand wind. To do so look down on your torsion spring, does the coil run counterclockwise? If so you have a left-hand wind. If it is running clockwise, you will need a right-hand wind. 

How To Measure Extension Springs

 

It should be noted that measuring garage door springs can be a very dangerous and difficult task and should be performed by professionals. Attempting to weigh or repair a garage door should never be done alone unless by an experienced professional. 

Identifying the size of the extension spring needed is a much simpler task than its counterpart. All you need to identify what type/size of extension spring is needed is the length of the spring and the weight of the garage door it will be lifting. 

Similar to torsion springs, extension springs must not be expanded during measurement. To measure the extension spring close your garage door and use a measuring tape to measure the extension spring end to end. 

If you have a traditional garage door, it is likely a 7-foot door and will require a 25-inch spring. 

The next step in identifying the size of extension spring needed is to measure the weight of your garage door. To do so you must first disconnect the power to the garage door opener. Secondly, disconnect the operator’s arm from the garage door. 

Next, disengage the pin from the operator. From here both extension springs will need to be uninstalled. Once the garage door is safely lowered to the ground, slide a scale under the middle of the garage door and take multiple readings to identify the proper weight. 

Recording accurate weight is important in determining the size of the garage door spring needed. A 110-pound spring installed on a 150-pound garage door will stretch beyond repair and eventually snap putting the people and property around it at great risk of damage and injury. 

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