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How I replaced deadly garage door torsion springs (2002)

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Re: How I replaced deadly garage door torsion springs (2002)

#331

Post by eternityforest »

codethatwerks wrote: post #175
imoverclocked wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A rather small motor with a lot of mechanical advantage can easily open a close a garage door, and if a DC or low voltage AC motor is used, it could do so quite a few times even if the power goes out. Garage doors are actually fairly heavy. By balancing the weight with a spring, you do a lot of favors to your mechanical advantage systems. (Eg: less wear, less advantage needed, the door can open in a reasonable amou…

What about a counterweight or a piston instead (pistons are used in pull down beds which might be a similar load)

Maybe there could be a mechanism that lets you decouple the spring from the door and instead connect it to a worm drive, which would then be used to take tension off the spring using a power drill, all while it's completely contained in a steel housing.

Re: How I replaced deadly garage door torsion springs (2002)

#332

Post by rightbyte »

j-a-a-p wrote: post #272
lttlrck wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When my spring broke I called a someone local (maybe via Yelp), he came out within 30 minutes, replaced it in 20 and charged me $75. This was only a couple of years ago. Likewise with brake fluid changes. I can do it, but the risk/hassle just ain't worth it for the cost of a pro.

I never replace the brake fluid. I do flush each caliper when changing summer and winter tyres. This means a selected offspring presses the brake twice for every tyre and the caliper has fresh fluid in it. The fluid only degrades in the caliper, no need to replace it entirely, and no need for a computer when you do it like I described it.

You are replacing the brake fluid though. Probably more ofent then almost every car owner.

Re: How I replaced deadly garage door torsion springs (2002)

#333

Post by ProllyInfamous »

smeej wrote: post #304
batch12 wrote: post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Notably, "unintentional fall" is the #1 cause of emergency department visits for adults Yes. Until it happens to you, it seems like someone else's problem. I say this as someone who found himself staring at the sky with a concussion and whiplash after the ladder decided to walk out from under me on my concrete walkway. (I'll admit that it was probably my error, but I'll never really know since the ladder took a tri…

I have a scar on one hand that I call my "Get down and move the damn ladder" reminder scar. Five of the inches have faded, but there's still one, bright, keloid spot at the base of my right thumb that stares right down at me every time I start to reach for something and think, "This would really be easier if I got down and moved the ladder."

From my OSHA30 training (IBEW, about a decade ago) I still remember and often quote that ladders are primary contributing factor to accidents that lead to tradesmen disability.

In my more-youthful idiot phase, I recall using a 4" holesaw to drill two holes into the roof awning, while standing atop a fifty foot extension ladder (planted into soil, only). After completing the first, I realized how dangerous this task was... and then still convinced myself to drill the second hole.

It seems the general contractor [bossman] hadn't wanted to wait for an already-to-be-delivered bucket lift, which the CCTV guys ended up requiring anyways ("no way in hell we'd do that on a ladder," they said to me). This woke me up that I needed to find better bosses/employment.

Re: How I replaced deadly garage door torsion springs (2002)

#334

Post by winkelmann »

stikit wrote: post #294

I replaced my torsion springs a few weeks ago with little drama. The hardest part was measuring the old springs so I could order the correct replacements. The reason I did it myself was 1) the springs used by contractors are typically lower quality and will last 10k cycles vs about 30k for the standard ones I ordered. 2) I wanted to learn how the system worked so I could adjust it as needed and know it was done right…

> I wore gloves

I don't know if this also applies to garage door springs, but when working with lathes for example, it is often recommended to not wear gloves. I imagine if the spring comes loose, it might slash open your hand, but with a glove, it could fully grab it and basically wind up your hand and arm around itself.

Re: How I replaced deadly garage door torsion springs (2002)

#336

Post by mnw21cam »

amluto wrote: post #316
mnw21cam wrote: post #279

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently accidentally drained the battery on my car while I was fixing unrelated stuff on the door (and therefore had the door open for 3 hours). I bought a "jumpstarter kit" which is basically a 12000mAh LiIon battery (3.7V) and some electronics. It's just a little bigger than a large mobile phone, but you clip it to the car battery and it's capable of providing 12V at 600A to turn the starter motor for up to 5 se…

Some pedantry: 1. It’s unlikely there’s power conversion circuitry in the kit. It’s almost certainly a few cells in series. 2. I’d be surprised if it can actually produce 600A at 12V. It’ll be “12V nominal” into an open circuit, which is really more like 14V for a 4-cell Li-ion setup. But even a 600 cold cranking amp lead-acid battery only supplies 7.2V at 600A.

1: That's not what the manual says. But you're probably right anyway. I haven't cracked the box open to check.

2: Yes, you're right I'm sure.

Re: How I replaced deadly garage door torsion springs (2002)

#337

Post by rainbowzootsuit »

user3939382 wrote: post #174
arh68 wrote: post #75

> but the risk is comparable to doing your own car repairs "Comparable" in that it's way, way greater , sure. Unless we're talking dangerous car repairs, like using a spring compressor to disassemble a strut &c. Or using harbor freight jack stands.. When my spring broke, I thought someone crashed their car into my house. It's an incredible amount of energy. Garage door springs are up there with lathes & table saws, i…

I’m really scared of my angle grinder. Checkout on YT what happens when one of those discs comes apart.

Angle grinder disks have an expiration date stamped on the hub that should be respected.

Re: How I replaced deadly garage door torsion springs (2002)

#338

Post by BeFlatXIII »

Scoundreller wrote: post #141
hvs wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is basically what the "early Internet" looked like that people often write paeans to. Lots of pages written by people very dedicated to a weirdly specific thing while also peppering it with nonsequiturs and their crazy theory about who runs the "real" government. It was fine, but hardly the glorious wonderland often portrayed. (Not that the current Internet is without its flaws, but if I want to learn something…

Modern day recipe and gardening websites sound like your description of the "early internet".

The difference is that the extraneous junk is in one long block on modern websites, whereas it previously would've been freely mixed throughout the actual content in the old web.

Re: How I replaced deadly garage door torsion springs (2002)

#339

Post by bumby »

Spivak wrote: post #310
nradov wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lighter materials that would provide the same level of durability, security, insulation, and fire resistance would be significantly more expensive. No one wants to pay for that.

But the other 3 walls of your garage are wood?

The other three walls don't have the same demands put on them. For one, you wouldn't need to lift them by hand, so they can be practically as heavy as you want.

Re: How I replaced deadly garage door torsion springs (2002)

#340

Post by fargle »

Waterluvian wrote: post #139

> so if you have any doubts about your abilities to do risky physical work on your own, hire the job out like everyone else. The problem I witness is that the people who kill or maim themselves will tell you they were confident. When people aren’t confident, their brains are responding properly to the danger and it generally leads them to making good decisions.

hard disagree. confidence != complacency/over-confidence.

self-confidence is actually an absolutely key factor to safety. it doesn't mean you are blind to the dangers, rather that you recognize them, are able manage and handle risks and how to mitigate them, and above all are not fearful. you absolutely need to trust yourself.

if you are not feeling confident you are NOT going to be safe. not being confident leads to timidity, second-guessing, maybe saying "ugh. i guess that is normal?" when they shouldn't. and if something goes wrong, you can't freeze, you have to be able react appropriately.

the first time you do a mildly risky thing like this, it's wise to do more research, go a little slower and think about each step. but there's no reason that you can't approach it with a safe and confident attitude, even the first time, if you are prepared - or even better - have a trainer/mentor that can check you.

when you feel "unconfident" or fearful that is when you should walk away.

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