Ever tried fixing your own garage door?

DocL · 04-20-2022, 10:10 AM

I've replaced an entire garage door opener all by myself. I stacked up old tires to hold the opener so I could screw it to the metal hangers. It took me a few hours, but it was a satisfying job.

XutvJet · 04-21-2022, 12:56 AM

I've done basically everything with garage doors short of installing a new door. None of it is particularly hard. You just need the right tools and know how. I don't get all the concern about torsion springs. I put more of my life and body at risk working under my cars.

ryan stewart · 04-21-2022, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N54Yankee

Garage door springs are under a hell of a lot of tension and can be very dangerous for the novice.

I replaced mine really easily, there's a specific procedure and if you follow it there's basically no danger.

jsf721 · 04-22-2022, 03:42 AM

I replaced the rollers, pullies and springs and the opener and it’s Silent now.

Konacq · 04-22-2022, 09:31 AM

I tried fixing my own and gave up. Called the Door Doctor. Fast service, and it works.

bosstones · 04-22-2022, 04:33 PM

Springs, hell no.

Rollers & Brackets, yes. It's just ball bearings in the rollers. Since they're not sealed, all the dust and crap that can get into your garage can also start gunking up the rollers and affect the lubrication within. That said, make sure your track or something else isn't eff'd up first. It can sometimes cause rollers to drag at parts of the track.

tranquility · 04-22-2022, 05:09 PM

I dunno about ppl talking w that much bravado esp if it's advising someone who's a total newbie. Gotta be careful, heard too many bad stuff about these springs.

Similarly, heard from my former mgt talking about a past incident where some guy thought he was too cool to hire a professional and wanted save a few bucks and decided to DIY and do something to his water system in his condo, got blasted in the face from the hot water pipe w 3rd degree burns and also flooded the whole damn building. He's probably walking around all disfigured now, and for what? Some ppl just dunno where to draw the line.

ryan stewart · 04-22-2022, 05:13 PM

I guess, have saved thousands of dollars not being terrified I'm doing a little bit of my own work. The secret is to be smart and just do your research beforehand. I'm also confident the quality of my labor is higher because I can take my time and do it right, we're most vendors just do it good enough.

There's literally a hundred YouTube videos on the process and as long as you follow the process there is zero danger.

vreihen16 · 06-17-2024, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zymeshbo

Fixing your garage door can be a bit of an adventure, but it depends on the issue. If it's something simple like tightening bolts or lubricating hinges, go for it!

dradernh · 06-17-2024, 08:06 PM

The idea of working on anything around the house that requires more than a screwdriver plus a lot more aptitude, talent, knowledge, and intelligence than I know I've got always reminds me of this simple fact: A man’s got to know his limitations. And I do, having tried so many times to ignore them.

By now, the number of problems I haven't had because I hired virtually everything out must be in the hundreds.

Esteban · 06-17-2024, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dradernh

The idea of working on anything around the house that requires more than a screwdriver plus a lot more aptitude, talent, knowledge, and intelligence than I know I've got always reminds me of this simple fact: A man’s got to know his limitations. And I do, having tried so many times to ignore them.

By now, the number of problems I haven't had because I hired virtually everything out must be in the hundreds.

Great quote.

M5Rick · 06-25-2024, 06:14 AM

Fixed my double swing up and over electric garage door twice which lately wasn't locating into a side channel and jammed. Crawled in underneath and after some hammer and large screwdriver prying of the locating channel a good dose of wd 40 made things smooth again.

Mason Hatcher · 06-25-2024, 11:33 AM

If you DIY and off yourself, dibs on your cars.

UncleWede · 06-26-2024, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mason Hatcher

If you DIY and off yourself, dibs on your cars.

OP hasn't updated since the parts were on the way in 2019. I think you missed your chance.

vreihen16 · 06-26-2024, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleWede

OP hasn't updated since the parts were on the way in 2019. I think you missed your chance.

...or there's the mother of all barn finds waiting to be discovered if you step over the OP's crushed remains.....

04-20-2022, 10:10 AM	#23
DocL Captain 2047 Rep 919 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 Comp 6spd Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Delray Beach iTrader: (2)	I've replaced an entire garage door opener all by myself. I stacked up old tires to hold the opener so I could screw it to the metal hangers. It took me a few hours, but it was a satisfying job. __________________ 2018 F80 M3. YMB/BLK. ZCP. Three Pedals. "Education will never be as expensive as ignorance."
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04-21-2022, 12:56 AM	#24
XutvJet Major General 5829 Rep 5,477 Posts Drives: 2011 Cayman Base, 2016 M235 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (-1)	I've done basically everything with garage doors short of installing a new door. None of it is particularly hard. You just need the right tools and know how. I don't get all the concern about torsion springs. I put more of my life and body at risk working under my cars.
	Appreciate 2 3.0L9703.00 540iSUP716.50 Quote

04-22-2022, 03:42 AM	#26
jsf721 Captain 1147 Rep 899 Posts Drives: 2019 540i X M Sport Join Date: May 2019 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	I replaced the rollers, pullies and springs and the opener and it’s Silent now.
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04-22-2022, 09:31 AM	#27
Konacq Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: X3 Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0)	I tried fixing my own and gave up. Called the Door Doctor. Fast service, and it works. __________________ --- Alex McPhail 2019 X3
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04-22-2022, 04:33 PM	#28
bosstones Lieutenant Colonel 1225 Rep 1,584 Posts Drives: o_0 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Suburbia iTrader: (0)	Springs, hell no. Rollers & Brackets, yes. It's just ball bearings in the rollers. Since they're not sealed, all the dust and crap that can get into your garage can also start gunking up the rollers and affect the lubrication within. That said, make sure your track or something else isn't eff'd up first. It can sometimes cause rollers to drag at parts of the track. __________________ - Jeff bosstones' flickr
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04-22-2022, 05:09 PM	#29
tranquility sportscars only 3436 Rep 3,258 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	I dunno about ppl talking w that much bravado esp if it's advising someone who's a total newbie. Gotta be careful, heard too many bad stuff about these springs. Similarly, heard from my former mgt talking about a past incident where some guy thought he was too cool to hire a professional and wanted save a few bucks and decided to DIY and do something to his water system in his condo, got blasted in the face from the hot water pipe w 3rd degree burns and also flooded the whole damn building. He's probably walking around all disfigured now, and for what? Some ppl just dunno where to draw the line. __________________ The richest one percent of this country owns half our country's wealth, five trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work, two thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons and what I do, stock and real estate speculation...It's bullsh*t. I create nothing. I own. We make the rules, pal...Now you're not naive enough to think we're living in a democracy, are you buddy?
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04-22-2022, 05:13 PM	#30
ryan stewart Major 2239 Rep 1,347 Posts Drives: 2008 328it Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	I guess, have saved thousands of dollars not being terrified I'm doing a little bit of my own work. The secret is to be smart and just do your research beforehand. I'm also confident the quality of my labor is higher because I can take my time and do it right, we're most vendors just do it good enough. There's literally a hundred YouTube videos on the process and as long as you follow the process there is zero danger.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-17-2024, 08:06 PM	#32
dradernh Brigadier General 4810 Rep 3,611 Posts Drives: 2017 M240i Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: SW Ohio iTrader: (0)	The idea of working on anything around the house that requires more than a screwdriver plus a lot more aptitude, talent, knowledge, and intelligence than I know I've got always reminds me of this simple fact: A man’s got to know his limitations. And I do, having tried so many times to ignore them. By now, the number of problems I haven't had because I hired virtually everything out must be in the hundreds. __________________ 2017 M240i: 25.9K, 28.9 mpg, MT, Sunroof Delete, 3,432#, EB, Leather, Driving Assistance Package, Heated Front Seats \| Sold: E12 530i, E24 M635CSi, E39 520i, E30 325is, E36 M3 (2) TC Kline Coilovers; H&R Front Bar; Wavetrac; Al Subframe Bushings; 18X9/9½ ARC-8s; 255/35-18 PS4S (4); Dinan Elite V2 & CAI; MPerf Orange BBK; Schroth Quick Fit Pro; Full PPF
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06-25-2024, 06:14 AM	#34
M5Rick General 66295 Rep 21,449 Posts Drives: M5 F10 DCT Gunmetal Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: GB iTrader: (0)	Fixed my double swing up and over electric garage door twice which lately wasn't locating into a side channel and jammed. Crawled in underneath and after some hammer and large screwdriver prying of the locating channel a good dose of wd 40 made things smooth again.
	Appreciate 1 vreihen1619086.50 Quote

06-25-2024, 11:33 AM	#35
Mason Hatcher Captain 1131 Rep 695 Posts Drives: BMW X3 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: FW-TX iTrader: (0)	If you DIY and off yourself, dibs on your cars.
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