How Do You Size Garage Torsion Springs?
Garage doors with automatic openers have either a single- or double-torsion spring to help the electric motor lift the door. Torsion springs wind tightly when the garage door is down, then unwind and expand to expel the tension when the door is raised. Torsion springs break after several years of use because of the extensive tension on them. Taking precise measurements of the springs ensures the correct replacement parts. Close the garage door with the remote control or wall switch. Place a ladder inside the garage to access the top of the door. Measure the inside diameter of a torsion spring with a measuring tape. This is the distance across the opening in the spring middle, not including the spring. Stretch the measuring tape 20 inches along the torsion-spring length. Count the number of coils in the 20-inch distance. Divide 20 by the number of coils to achieve the wire diameter of the spring; for example, if there are 80 coils in 20 inches of spring, the wire diameter is 0.250. Stre
