Page 20 - FAQ & A

The winding cone consists of holes every 90 degrees for winding the springs and two set screws to secure the spring to the shaft. Steel counterbalance cables run from the roller brackets at the bottom corners of the door to a notch in the cable drums.
When the door is raised, the springs unwind and the stored tension lifts the door by turning the shaft, thus turning the cables drums, wrapping the cables around grooves on the cable drums.
When the door is lowered, the cables unwrap from the drums and the springs are rewound to full tension.
The most common grade of torsion springs have an expected life of about 10,000 cycles wich are estimated to last between 3-7 years. It is important to remember that if the weight of the garage door is increased by adding glass or insulation, the life of the spring may be reduced.
The hardened and tempered steel experiences tremendous forces each time the door opens and closes.
Gradually, the steel fatigues with each cycle, and eventually cracks and breaks, usually with a horrific noise or bang.
CAUTION!
Replacing garage door torsion springs is dangerous because the springs are under tension. If you do not use the right tools and follow safe procedures, you could lose hands, limbs or even your life. You could also damage property. If you have any doubts about your ability to safely change your springs, we recommend you hire a Phoenix Garage Doors to repair your garage door. Accurate torsion spring measurement is vital.