Garage door opener

Jaybird180

Jaybird180

Final Approach
Joined
Dec 28, 2010
Messages
9,038
Location
Near DC
Display Name
Jaybird180
Home Airfield
VKX
I had a repair guy come and replace the cable that runs between a pulley system with a spring at the other end. When the cable broke I thought the door would be inop but it still worked. It also didn't appear to be safety related. Can someone tell me what the steel cable does?:dunno:
 
Sounds like the spring/cable is a system to reduce the weight the garage door opener has to lift so it doesn't keel over dead. :)
 
There are a lot of different garage door cable/spring configurations.

Depending on the door hardware: The spring assists in opening the door, the cable normally runs to a connection on the bottom of the door. It MAY run through the center of the spring, or there may be a separate cable that runs through the center of the spring. That cable routing will catch the spring in case it snaps. If your garage opener is still operating the door with a broken cable, then the opener is working too hard. Disconnect the opener from the door and put the door in a half-open (or half-closed) position. Adjust cable tension until the door stays and is evenly balanced.
 
Jaybird180 said:
I had a repair guy come and replace the cable that runs between a pulley system with a spring at the other end. When the cable broke I thought the door would be inop but it still worked. It also didn't appear to be safety related. Can someone tell me what the steel cable does?:dunno:
Click to expand...

:needpics::needpics:

Sounds like maybe a spring tensioner for the drive belt but it was designed so gravity was enough and the spring just an assurance? Post a pick of what you're talking about. A good pic, or several.
 
When the cable snapped, I don't think I saw any change in operation, prompting my question.
 
Jaybird180 said:
When the cable snapped, I don't think I saw any change in operation, prompting my question.
Click to expand...

I bet you would have, if you had a 1/4 HP opener on that door instead of the 1/2 or 3/4 HP you probably have.

Like Henning said - post a couple of pics. There doors that have a single large spring that goes across the garage door opening, and there are doors that have two springs that are on either side of the tracks near the ceiling. I think there are probably a couple more variations.
 
Jaybird180 said:
When the cable snapped, I don't think I saw any change in operation, prompting my question.
Click to expand...

Is your garage door a typical overhead unit or is it some type of side mount unit where the motor weight is hanging on the pulley?
 
Henning said:
Is your garage door a typical overhead unit or is it some type of side mount unit where the motor weight is hanging on the pulley?
Click to expand...

I was thinking of a normal house garage door/opener. I didn't think about the commercial loading-dock types.
 
After reviewing the replaced cable and its routing I have concluded the purpose of the cable is to assist the opener with lifting the door.

There is a spring at the top of the travel which is stretched (storing potential energy) when the door is closed. When the opener commands an up movement, the spring releases its energy to assist the motor. I was usure of the HP of the opener model I have and have not taken the time to find the model number to "Google it".

But I always know were to go to talk with people smarter than I on just about any topic. Now where did I put my flux capacitance hyperspanner?
 
Jaybird180 said:
After reviewing the replaced cable and its routing I have concluded the purpose of the cable is to assist the opener with lifting the door.

There is a spring at the top of the travel which is stretched (storing potential energy) when the door is closed. When the opener commands an up movement, the spring releases its energy to assist the motor. I was usure of the HP of the opener model I have and have not taken the time to find the model number to "Google it".

But I always know were to go to talk with people smarter than I on just about any topic. Now where did I put my flux capacitance hyperspanner?
Click to expand...


Ok, so it's a normal unit that was powerful enough to pick up your door without the spring.
 
It didn't used to be common for the cable to be strung through the center of the spring. If that spring breaks under full tension, it unloads a lot of energy. Running the cable through the spring rwill prevent each end of the spring from snapping in opposite direcitons and will prevent holes in the wall above the garage door, bent hangars and tracks, and serious injuries to anyone standing nearby. I've seen all that ( except the injuries, nobody was inside the garage when it happened ).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top