Thread: Roller Doors

I didn't know you had to tension them......

Well you learn something new every day.

I deliberately did not put in the T, cos when I see a T I think of Triple T,
Trim, Taut & Terriffic, Just like You and all ya Blonde Mates

Google is your friend

Having spent several years installing and repairing roller doors this is the procedure to retension them.

It is best attempted with two people if you have not done it before.

Have a ladder or something to stand on at each end of the door.

Make sure the door is rolled up

You need a good pair of Stillsons with sharp teeth at least 18" long.

Start at one end and ensure the axle clamp bolts are tight.

Go to the other end and loosen the axle clamp bolts and grip the axle with the stillson with the handle pointing up at about 45 degrees and make sure the stillsons has gripped the axle.

Next get your offsider to loosen the axle clamp bolts on the other end.

Then turn the axle about a 1/4 to 1/2 a turn and then get your offsider to tighten the axle clamp bolts.

Then tighten the axle clamp bolts on the other end.

This should be enough to give the door adequate tension. If not just repeat the procedure but don't over tension because when you put the door down it will want to spring up again.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...hp't=16034



Martyn

Not claiming to be any sort of expert but I remember having to re-tension mine a couple of years back ( this is after backing into it with the Disco and having to straighten it up. )

The important thing is to pre-tension it when it is rolled fully up. It it similar concept to a holland blind. Then as the door comes down it puts more tension in the springs. My door door was down and had no tension, it was a bugger to roll up. I think I used a high lift jack ( handy tool ) to get it as high as possible, put a little bit of tension on and then was able to raise it by hand the rest of the way.

If yours is like mine (with a U clamp holding the shaft at each end ) , I found the the trick to tensioning was to poke a steel rod through a hole drilled through the shaft, then slowly release the U clamp, tension up then while holding the tension, tighten the U clamp up. This needs to be done at both ends. The trick is to get enough tenson to lift the door easily, without it being to hard to pull down.

Good Luck !

Rob: I have a client who is our local garage door supplier: He said 'door down and wind the large (tension) screw to where you want it'. Door down loads it and then you cant overtighten......

Also said they 'sag' over years and need occasional tightening - given that they go up and down several times a day - I'm sure you get the drift.....

GQ

Done It........all by myself.

This is how it is done:-
Drill Hole through one end.....the end that is easiest to get at....unless you are a masochist in which case pick the other end.

Have rachet and socket to fit the nut on the u-bolts ready.

Have long screw drive or length of steel rod to fit through the hole.
Have a good set of Stilsons......Oooooh TTT.
Have some thing to stand on that is stable...This is particularly important otherwise you gonna fall off, hit ya head on the toolbox you left on the floor and knock ya self out. After you wake up you are then going to step onto the piece of skirting board with the really, really long nail in it, that you had been meaning to put in the bin, and very neatly staple ya boot to ya foot,.... I mean right through....then you going to have blazing row with the Doc who wants to cut your perfectly good boot, off ya foot. So to save all of this happening to you....make sure you have a stable work platform....K
Then....
Undo the u-bolts at the end with no hole.
Fit Stilsons to the centre pipe and apply pressure in the direction that the door rolls up....make damn sure they are locked on cos this sucker is under a lot of tension.
Undo the U-bolt slowly until you are able to move the pipe with the stilsons.

If you are just re-tensioning an existing roller door you will only need to go about a half to one turn or as the case maybe.

Other wise you will have to go between 15 - 25 turns, holding the pipe with the steel rod whilst you get another grip with the stilson...... be careful here cos if you let go when the rod is holding the pipe you are going to get 16 trillion upper cuts to the lower jaw in about .5 of a second.

My door was down, and in its tracks, may be easier if it is still rolled up.

Once you have applied sufficient pressure hold with the stilson whilst you nip up the U-bolt.....make sure it is tight. Check door for ease of operation. It should hold its position anywhere you leave it. Once happy, tighten up the other u-bolt.

Then run inside get the Missus and drag her away from Days of our Lives, or whatever it is she is watching and get her to put the door up and down a few times , whilst making appropriate noises of appreciation and admiration of a well done job, then go inside and change the dressing on ya foot.

Well done Rob, you can do mine now

GQ

Now if anybody wants to know how to fit a roller door....just ask.....I have had lots of experience