Spring & Balance Problems
Broken spring identification, balance test failures, uneven door movement, spring fatigue signs, cable drum issues, and counterbalance adjustments.
- Identify broken spring symptoms from customer description and visual inspection
- Diagnose balance test failures and determine correction actions
- Troubleshoot cable and drum issues causing uneven movement
- Select correct spring replacements based on door specifications
Lesson 1
Broken Spring Identification & Symptoms
Customer-Reported Symptoms
A broken torsion spring is the most common garage door service call. Customers typically report:
- "I heard a loud bang in the garage" - the sound of the spring breaking
- "The door will not open" or "The door is very heavy"
- "The opener runs but the door barely moves"
- "There is a gap in the spring above the door"
Visual Confirmation
A broken torsion spring is easily identified by a visible gap in the spring coils where the wire has snapped. The two halves of the broken spring may remain on the shaft or may have shifted apart. On a two-spring system, one spring may be broken while the other remains intact - the door may partially function but be dangerously unbalanced.
Do Not Operate
Never operate a garage door with a broken spring using the opener. The opener is not designed to lift the full weight of the door without spring assistance. Running the opener with a broken spring can strip gears, burn the motor, or cause the door to fall.
A loud bang followed by a heavy or non-functional door is the classic broken spring presentation. Look for a visible gap in the spring coils to confirm. Never operate the door with the opener when a spring is broken.