Jumped Or Frayed Cable
If your garage springs arent damaged then the probable reason behind your garage door being shifted to one side is that you have a jumped or frayed cable.
When you open the door, both the spring and cable work together and lift the door of your garage. But when the cable is damaged, unwind, or broken, it can shift your garage door to one side.
Again, in the worst-case scenario, both the cable and springs of your garage can be worn out. In this case, youll have to replace both the cable and the springs of your garage door.
How To Install The Safety Cable On An Extension Spring
The safety cable in an extension spring system prevents the debris from a broken cable from flying all over the garage. This is important because when springs break they are usually under tension.
This tension is released when the spring breaks and these metal fragments can be dangerous. The safety cable also provides support for the spring, preventing it from shattering if it contacts the floor.
Fortunately, the process to replace the cable is simple:
- The cable will be attached to the track on the end closest to the door and either tied or bolted to the other end.
- Detach both ends and simply pull the old cable through the spring and discard it.
- After confirming the cable is correct, install the new cable by connecting it on the rear side, passing it through the cable, and reattaching it to the track using the S hook.
Pro Tip. When attaching the safety cable to the frame, try to align the cable as close to the spring as possible before passing it through the spring. Although the safety cable will still function, either way, a well-aligned cable will reduce friction with the spring when the door is in operation.
Can I Prevent The Lifting Cable From Breaking
Although you cannot completely prevent a cable from breaking, regular maintenance of the system will add years to its lifespan. Cables usually break due to either age or damage.
The best way to add years to your system is to keep everything in balance and well lubricated. There are many parts that move when the door is in operation and each one can add friction unless it is operating properly and lubricated.
A common indicator your system needs some attention will squeak when the door is moving. Although the cable itself does not need lubrication, the other components will.
Sticky rollers, unlubricated springs, and the opener can all cause unwanted noise. A good shot of silicon or graphite will usually reduce any wear that would cause problems later.
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How To Replace A Torsion Spring Lifting Cable
Step 1: Safety measures
As with any home improvement project, the first consideration is always safety. This is especially true when working with garage doors.
When dealing with something as heavy as a garage door, it is always a great idea to have help readily available just in case you need it. Proper safety precautions, such as eye protection and gloves, are critical for this type of project.
Step 2: Remove the cables
- Next, open the door as far as it will open and place a step ladder under the door. Take two pairs of locking pliers or C-clamps and lock them onto the track just below the last roller. This will prevent the door from trying to close unexpectedly.
- Determine which side has the broken cable and start on that side. Above the upper corners of the door will be a winding drum on each side. This is probably where you will find what is left of your broken cable. Along the outer edge of the drum, locate the end of the cable resting in a notch in the drum.
- Carefully unwind the cable and remove it. The other end of the cable will be looped around a pin located on the bottom of the door, along the outer edge. Remove the cable from the pin.
Step 3: Install new cables
- You are now ready to install the new cable. Your new cable should look exactly like the original, down to the diameter and length. If your new cable does not, you have the wrong cable. If you do have the wrong cable, remedy this before proceeding as an improper cable may wear quickly.
Reasons Why The Garage Door Is Crooked And Stuck
A garage door assembly is much more complicated than you might think. Each component of the garage system must work in perfect harmony to lift and lower the door. If just one part isnt working correctly, it becomes evident immediately, such as a crooked or stuck garage door.
If your garage door is crooked and stuck, you probably have corroded cables and springs. You must replace both for the garage door to function properly. Several scenarios can lead to broken garage doors, so troubleshoot the situation before repairing.
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How To Spot A Broken Cable
As mentioned above, a broken cable is dangerous, and it is hence essential to keep an eye on it whenever you open or close the door. There are some tell-tale signs you should look out for in case of breakage. They include:
- Squeaky Noises: The door could be making squeaky noises because the cable has rusted or is fraying because of corrosion. This could happen due to the presence of water or moisture near the door.
- Heavy Door: As the cable becomes weaker, it becomes more difficult to lift the door. The amount of tension and pressure on both the spring and the cable increases, which gives a feeling of the door being heavier than usual.
- Improper lifting: Since in some cases, the cables are present on both sides of the door, there may be imbalance while lifting the door, if only one of the cables is fraying. In such a case, one side may lift higher than the other, making this problem evident.
In case of any of the above scenarios, it is best to assume that your garage door cable snapped, immediately call a professional and get the cables replaced.
Garage Door Cable Broke You Are In Good Hands
If your garage door cable broke, or if any other components need to be repaired or replaced, you can trust the experts here at Garage Door in My Area. We have many years of experience in installing, repairing and replacing all aspects of garage doors. If you need emergency service, we will come to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week whenever you need us. We guarantee a response time of less than 60 minutes for all emergency calls we receive. We take great pride in the quality of all the garage door cable repair work that we do, and our main goal is customer satisfaction and safety. Dont compromise your family, call the pros who know how to repair garage door cables. Give us a call today for a free, hassle-free quote. We will come to you, no questions asked. We look forward to hearing from you.
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If Your Car Is Trapped
If a spring or cable breaks while your cars are parked inside, the garage door wont open and youll be stranded. Getting emergency evening or weekend service from a garage door professional can easily cost $400. However, if you can get your vehicles out of the garage, you can postpone the repair to get normal weekday repair rates.
If you want to do the repair yourself, get several phone estimates first, because rates vary widely among service companies. Most garage doors are heavy , so call in three strong friends to help you lift the door and hold it open while you lock it in the full raised position with a locking pliers. Then move your vehicles and have your friends help you lower the door.
Frequently Asked Questions About Garage Door Cables
What causes garage door cables to break?
The most common reason garage door cables fail is wear and tear, which is inevitable on all garage door systems. Other reasons can be improper track alignment that causes strain on other components and corrosion. The complex components of a garage door work like an ecosystem if one area is worn, damaged, or misaligned, it impacts other parts. If you have a damaged garage door cable, its best to avoid using the garage door until a technician can come in to replace them.
How long should a garage door cable last?
Depending on the cycle count of your garage door and how often you use your garage, cables should last 8-15 years. You can extend the life of your garage door cables by keeping up with a regular maintenance schedule.
What happens if a garage door cable breaks?
When a garage door cable breaks, it puts extra pressure and strain onto the other cable causing the garage door to become unbalanced or lift unevenly. Some telltale signs of a snapped cable is a garage door that shakes or becomes crooked when lifting or closing.
What are garage door cables used for?
Garage door cables are used in unison with the torsion and extension springs to counterbalance the weight of the doors. They are located on each side of the door and help lift and shut it smoothly.
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Potential Garage Door Cable Repair Problems
There are a few different things that could possibly go wrong when it comes to the proper functionality of your garage door cables. Firstly, cables can possibly wind around the drums in a way that is off-base, leading to the door becoming jamming or lopsided. Cables might even become unwound from their drums entirely, and will thusly require reattachment. Additionally, worn out pulleys are a possibility, and this causes the door to become jammed or to favor one side. When cables, springs or pulleys need to be replaced, there is a good chance that the need to replace the others is not far behind.
Snapped Garage Door Cable Problems
One of the most dangerous issues with the cable that can occur is one or both of your cables snapping. This means that one side of the garage door simply wont have enough support to keep itself leveled. This, of course, can lead to a potentially dangerous situation. One of the best ways to prevent this issue from occurring is to inspect your cables every once in a while. Look for frayed or worn-out cables as these are tall tell signs that something is wrong. If you observe these signs, it is important to contact your local Precision Torrance service company for a professional repair.
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Damaged Cables Can Be Dangerous
This frayed cable came off of a customers broken garage door during a tune up and inspection. The thin cable was starting to fray. If one of the two cables that work with the torsion spring break, half of the garage door wont open and you can destroy the panels of the door, the track, and even parts inside the opener. This could be a costly situation if that were to happen. If someone were walking under the door, it can be potentially life threatening. Not only do we have cables in stock for replacement, our cables are thicker and have a higher weight capacity and cycle rating so that they will last much longer.
Garage Door Cables are an essential part of the opening system. GEM Garage Door Repair has what you need to get you opening again. Call us today for a free quote on your broken garage door cable. One of our techs would be happy to assist you.
In most situations, we can repair your garage door the same day and for the best rates around.
Can I Fix My Cable Myself
An issue with your cable could come down to several factors:
- The cables could wind around the drum incorrectly, so the door becomes jammed.
- The cables can completely unwind from the drum and need to be reconnected.
- The pulleys get worn out, and the cable stops operating smoothly.
Though you can feasibly fix a broken garage door cable yourself, its unsafe to do so. Thats why we recommend calling a professional who can make the repair safely and without damaging the door or other moving parts.
Plus, our garage door repairs include inspecting the doors total performance, which can identify any other problems or potential issues before they get worse.
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What Are The Different Types Of Garage Door Springs
There are two main types of garage door springs. Both of them help you lift the garage door by acting as a counterbalance to ensure a smooth and balanced opening and closing of the door:
Extension springs
Extension springs are often located above the garage door track, which runs horizontally and perpendicular to the door. They are usually skinny springs that store energy through stretching and extending whenever the door moves.
There are three kinds of extension springs:
These are known as the weakest type of extension spring because they rely greatly on an open wire. If the open wire at the end breaks, then you need to replace the entire thing.
Double-looped extension springs are definitely better than the open-looped springs because it has two coils found by the springs end. These coils connect the springs to the eyebolt and pulley.
These springs are the strongest out of all the extension springs. You may find them on garage doors that weigh more than 200 pounds.
Extension springs can easily be DIY-ed. As long as you have the basic knowledge necessary about garage doors, then this should be a great starting point for beginners.
Torsion springs
These are the most common type of springs and are generally located above the door, running horizontal across the top of the door. They are run through a metal shaft and are generally broad in size.
There are four types of torsion springs:
What Should You Do If You Have A Broken Garage Door Cable
Garage door cables so small, yet so integral to the function of the door. If youre having problems opening or closing your garage door, or if you have loose wires hanging down by your garage door, you may have a broken garage door cable.
Replacing just the cable is possible, but the job isnt for everyone. What should you do if you have a broken garage door cable?
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Broken Garage Door Torsion Spring
A garage door with a broken torsion spring can be very dangerous. The spring is what helps keep the door balanced and in place, so if its broken, the door can easily come off the tracks. There are a few reasons why a garage door torsion spring might break.
One common reason is when the door is not closing all the way. This can cause the spring to over-extend and eventually break. If youre having trouble with your garage door closing all the way, make sure to call a professional to take a look at it.
Another common reason for a broken garage door torsion spring is when the lift cables are loose or worn out. If you suspect that your cables might be the problem, have a professional take a look at them to determine if they need to be replaced.
Heres a video you may find helpful Regarding This Matter:
Stretch Lubricate And Test The Springs
After fully winding the springs, tap the winding bar to stretch the spring about ¼ inch from the center. Turn the set screws until they meet the torsion tube, then tighten the screws a one-half to three-quarters turn. Dont tighten the screws any more than this to prevent puncture or distortion of the torsion tube.
Lubricate the spring using garage door lubricant. Slide a piece of cardboard or a paper bag between the spring and the garage wall. Thoroughly saturate the spring with the spray, then wipe off the excess.
Complete the process by removing the clamps and pliers from the torsion tube and track. Manually lift the door about three feet. If the door springs are properly adjusted, it will stay in place when you let go.
However, if the door falls when you let go, add a quarter turn to each spring until the door stays in place. If the door continues to open on its own, release a quarter-turn of the spring until it stays in place.
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What Is The Function Of A Garage Door Cable
A garage door cable is present on both sides of the automatic door to allow you to lift and shut the door easily. Its primary function is to reduce the amount of tension on the springs present on the doors and extend their lifetime. Hence, these cables are usually made to withstand a fair amount of regular wear and tear, but like any other hardware item, they have an expiry date too. With regular use, these robust cables do occasionally snap.
To efficiently carry out garage door cable repair, it is important to understand the types of cables and their respective functions. The classification of garage door cables is based on the kind of spring they support. The two types of garage door cables are:
- Lifting cables: They are a part of the garage door which uses torsion springs while lifting. They are attached to the bottom of the door and extend to the torsion springs attached on top of it.
- Retaining cables: They are present on doors with extension springs. Present on the left and right sides of the garage door, they run inside the springs. These cables stop the extension springs from hitting someone if they break apart- they are retained to the sides of the door instead.
Made of several fibers of galvanized wire twisted together, these cables are usually made to withstand the test of time. However, it is essential to maintain them well and keep an occasional eye on them to ensure you fix fraying cable before it reaches the stage of snapping into two.