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Caution when adjusting torsion springs

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Gliderman8

Gliderman8

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Had to adjust the tension on my garage door torsion springs after I replaced all of the track roller wheels.
In an effort to be "safe" I used my vice grip to lock the torsion bar in place while I adjusted the left cable drum to slightly lower the left side of the door.
As soon as I loosened the cable drum set screws WHAM! The torsion bar released the wound spring and my vice grip went airborne and imbedded itself in the garage ceiling. After making sure all my parts were intact I just counted my lucky stars.

IMG_2359.jpg
 
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Hoo-boy! That set of vice grips appears to be screaming bloody murder, too! Glad you weren't between them and the ceiling!
 
Thanks Mickey. No matter how safe you try to be "Murphy" always shows up.
 
Although the warning signs often indicate that one can be injured or killed, I tried this myself (in 1990)... and nearly slipped off a stool. Although I finished the adjustments, I vowed to never ever try that again!
 
I'm glad my wife isn't a member of this forum.... I think when she asks how it went I will say "just fine". Yikes!
 
This is one of those things that I now pay to have done (and combine it with related servicing). Those techs make it look so easy. I had a guy replace 2 large springs (one had broken) and he was in-and-out within 30 minutes.
 
Oh man that and roof work is better left to the pros.
life is way to short to mess with that.
 
Elliot, does your wife have a FaceBook page? I'd like to be her friend. :eagerness::eagerness:
 
judow said:
Elliot, does your wife have a FaceBook page? I'd like to be her friend. :eagerness::eagerness:
Click to expand...
She's not on FB. When she arrived home tonight I told her I had some "problems" but I didn't elaborate :rolleye:
 
So, are you going to sue ViceGrips? :playful:
 
I learned a long time ago to beware of springs - any springs. Dangerous, cantankerous devices, ready to let go at any time with tons of potential energy. Ask me how I know...
 
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