Garage door torsion spring

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This is one of very few jobs that I would call a pro to do, especially when it is time to re-tension the spring. The torsion springs are very powerful and it just isn't worth getting seriously injured. However, if you decide to try it anyway, you will see, somewhere along the torsion spring (usually in the middle on a 2 car garage door) a collar with a lock bolt that tightens up onto the rod that runs inside the spring. When this bolt is loosened, the spring will uncoil in a rapid and violent manner. You will also see on this collar some holes that are roughly 90 degrees apart (going around the collar). These are used when inserting the tightening rods to re-tension the spring. A rod is inserted and pulled to turn the collar 90 degrees, it is held in this position while another rod is inserted in the next hole above on the collar and turned 90. Now, while holding things still with the second rod, remove the first rod and the cycle repeats until the spring is twisted sufficiently and the lockbolt tightened down. You have to be real careful not to let the rod holding the collar in place slip -it will fly out across the garage and the spring will unwind. You can tell when the spring is sufficiently would by tightening the lockbolt and testing to see how hard it is to open the door. You should be able to open it by hand with little effort.