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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)

#61

Post by mbreese »

csande17 wrote: post #50
mbreese wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Look at the spread from #1 to #2. At young ages, the difference is pretty high, suggesting that young kids falling from things is common. In the middle age ranges, #1 and #2 are pretty close, suggesting that falling isn’t that different (from a statistical frequency POV) from the #2 option. But then look at the split at the older age groups. Falling is by and far the biggest cause. By a ton. Starting at 45, the split…

I would suspect that "unintentional fall" also covers falling over (like, the kind of fall that would happen if you tripped over a garden hose), not just falling off something. The former is the most common cause of emergency visits among the older people I know.

I figured for all ages it would also encompass falling off something. A chair, bed, etc… one type is more predominant for the younger ages (falling from something), the other is likely more predominant for the older ages (falling down, tripping, stairs, etc).

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

#62

Post by TheGRS »

VincentEvans wrote: post #39

Reading some of the comment section here makes this veteran DIYer sneer. Ya’ll need to “grow some” and unlearn helplessness. Pay someone else who learned the simple steps to do the simple work and save yourself the time for more productive activities, but stop congratulating yourself on “avoiding a disaster” - too much drama for the task at hand here.

Its not a regular thing to work on for the majority of people. What's the point of manning up for this particular DIY if the danger is high? Is it really that big of an ego hit to pay someone for a job once in awhile?

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

#63

Post by happytoexplain »

tmaly wrote: post #7

I have had to replace mine before. I was sitting in the family room. Big slam sound. I go out and check the garage and one of the springs had broke. It is really not a big deal to switch them out.

It is absolutely a big deal.

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

#64

Post by happytoexplain »

VincentEvans wrote: post #39

Reading some of the comment section here makes this veteran DIYer sneer. Ya’ll need to “grow some” and unlearn helplessness. Pay someone else who learned the simple steps to do the simple work and save yourself the time for more productive activities, but stop congratulating yourself on “avoiding a disaster” - too much drama for the task at hand here.

I'm sorry, but this "sneering" attitude is hideous. It's OK to do this job yourself if you have enough experience. It's also OK to not do it yourself because it is, in fact, dangerous. It's also OK to suggest that other DIY'ers err on the side of caution if they aren't 100% confident.

What's not OK is insisting broadly to man up and do it yourself, stop being helpless, etc. You could encourage an innocent person to severely injure themselves. It's pointless and irresponsible.

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

#65

Post by ok123456 »

shiftpgdn wrote: post #32
MiguelHudnandez wrote: post #23

I was hoping this was going to be a new technology making these springs obsolete.

I don't entirely understand why you can't just have a motor move the door for newer aluminum doors. They aren't that heavy.

They do. My gym has a garage door like this. Because of the lack of springs, I didn't realize it had a door opener until the owner went to lower it.

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

#66

Post by derekp7 »

TheGRS wrote: post #8
wackget wrote: post #4

Is there something I'm missing? A quick search of YouTube reveals tons of garage door spring replacement videos. It doesn't seem like the knowledge or parts are difficult to obtain.

Its widely known as one of the most dangerous DIYs you can do. I think typically people working on them will get pushed off their ladder suddenly from the tension in the spring releasing.

Happened in my family a number of years ago. The instructions said to crank the spring 7 1/4 turns. So it was really make a 1/4 turn, repeat 7 times. Not 7 full turns plus 1/4 additional.

After pulling the vice grips off, the door shot up with such force that it knocked the ladder over, causing a broken collar bone in the process.

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

#67

Post by derekp7 »

ajb wrote: post #36
MiguelHudnandez wrote: post #23

I was hoping this was going to be a new technology making these springs obsolete.

The alternative is counterweights. Not exactly new, but there looks like there is enough space for them in this case. The ones in the house I grew up in were a pair of concrete cylinders on either side of the door, maybe 10-15 cm in radius and 1m in length, mounted vertically. Not sure why they're not more common - seemed a completely reliable system.

The door needs less counter weight as it goes up. In order for weights to work you either need several weights, with different weights bottoming out as the door rises. Or have the cable on a spiral pulley may work.

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

#69

Post by dang »

VincentEvans wrote: post #39

Reading some of the comment section here makes this veteran DIYer sneer. Ya’ll need to “grow some” and unlearn helplessness. Pay someone else who learned the simple steps to do the simple work and save yourself the time for more productive activities, but stop congratulating yourself on “avoiding a disaster” - too much drama for the task at hand here.

"Please don't sneer, including at the rest of the community." - https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

If you know more than others, that's great, but in that case please share some of what you know, so the rest of us can learn: https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&sor...

Putdowns don't help anybody, and make less interesting reading.

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

#70

Post by the__alchemist »

jtriangle wrote: post #41
rpmisms wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ramps are very good. I don't know why anyone would use a jack for an oil change...

A jack is basically suicide tbh. Jackstands are fine, provided they're used correctly. Ramps are nice, provided you don't need to take a wheel off, then you're using jackstands anyway, so, if you're buying one or the other, jackstands are a good option. Personally, if you have the space for it, a trench is the best option, I had one previously and I miss it alot. Nothing leaves the ground, car just pulls in and is re…

IMO a trench mitigates the danger effectively.
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