Automatic Opener – Quick opening mechanism that does not use an electric motor/operator

Aladdin Connect – Opener accessory manufactured by Genie Company that allows you to open, close and

check the open/close position of your door from a computer, tablet or smart phone.

Ball Bearing Roller – A garage door roller that runs in the garage door track that is manufactured with ball

bearings for smoother operation.

Battery Backup – A small ,typically 12 volt, battery that provides power for an electric garage door opener

to work in the event of an electrical outage.

Belt Drive – A type of garage door opener that utilizes a belt that is driven by an electric motor to

automatically open/close a garage door.

Bracket- Also called jamb brackets, used to attach the garage door vertical tracks to the framing on

either side of the garage door opening.

Bottom Bracket- Fixture that attaches to the bottom of the bottom panel and carries the door roller,

typically has a stud that the garage door cables attach to.

Cable- Wires twisted together to form strands with the strands then being twisted to other strands to

create cables. Cables are used to actually lift a garage door as it opens.

Car2U –  Product manufactured by Lear to provide a Home Automation system. This system will allow you

to program your car control buttons to open your garage door and or gate opener.

Chain Drive – a type of garage door opener that utilizes a chain driven by an electric motor to

automatically open/close a garage door.

C.H.I. – Garage door manufacturer  made in Arthur, IL

Clearance – Head clearance is the amount of space from the top edge of the garage door opening to the

ceiling of the garage. Side clearance is the amount of space from the sides of the garage door opening to

the side walls of the structure.

Clopay – Nationwide Garage door manufacturer base out of Ohio.

Commercial Door – a garage or overhead door used in commercial apllications.

Counterbalance – to balance with equal weight or force.

Craftsman – garage door opener system manufactured by Chamberlain, labeled for and sold at Sears.

Drum – mount to the ends of the spring bar and provide the winding and unwinding point for the cables

as the garage door opens and closes.

Door Balance – counter weight or force applied to a garage door allowing for easy opening and closing.

Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA): North America’s trade association for

manufacturers of garage doors, rolling doors, vehicular gate operators and access control products.

Double Car Garage – garages designed for two cars to be parked side by side typically at minimum 20×20

or larger. Could have one large overhead door or two small overhead doors.

Direct Drive: opener system that utilizes a stationary chain in a steel rail with a traveling motor carriage,

as opposed to a stationary motor that turns the moving chain.

Emergency Lock – An exterior lock to open the garage door from the outside. 

Extension – extension springs mount above the horizontal tracks, older style spring system.

EZ-Set –  torsion spring system manufactured by Clopay that utilizes a gear box that winds the springs

using a socket attached to a drill.

Full Vertical Lift – a type of track set up that allows a sectional door to ride up the wall vertically without

the use of horizontal tracks. Requires headroom of the height of the door plus 12” inches at minimum.

Full View Section: sectional garage door panels that are full view clear panels on each section.

Guardian: a garage door product company that is well known in Australia and New Zealand that opened

a North American headquarters in Santa Fe Springs California in 2011. Manufactures openers and other

garage door components.

Gauge – the measured weight of steel used in the production of garage doors and garage door

components including springs.

Gear –  component in a garage door opener usually made off plastic that is round with teeth. The gear is

driven by the motor and turns the chain, belt or screw as the garage door opens and closes.

Genie: company that manufactures garage door openers and garage door opener accessories under the

same name along with Overhead Door Openers and Legacy Openers.

High Cycle Spring: most standard garage door springs have a life cycle rating of 10,000. A High Cycle

Spring can be 20,000 or more life cycles. The High Cycle springs are designed with the same “IPPT” rating

(inch pounds per turn) but is a larger spring in wire gauge and length. This longer heavier spring has less

stress on the spring when fully wound, thus leading to more life cycles and longer life expectancy.

High Lift – garage door track system that allows the garage door to open to the highest level possible,

allowing for maximum head room in the garage when the door is fully open.

Hinge –  garage door hinges allow the garage door to pivot at each section as the door opens and closes.

Hinges are made of different gauge metals for different weight doors and are numbered for their

position on the door. The hinges help maintain the proper gap between the garage door and the frame

work for the garage door opening as well.

Horman – a German based company that manufactures garage doors, garage door components and

garage door openers.

Home Link – Mobile home automation system that allows you to open and close your garage door and

entry gate along with arming and disarming alarm systems and turning lights and household appliances

on and off from three buttons integrated inside your automobile.

Idrive – Wayne Dalton garage door opener system now under the name of Home Run Holdings, no longer

manufactured by Wayne Dalton.

International Door Association (IDA) – provides programs and services to door and access system dealers,

formed in 1995 when the Door and Operator Dealers Association and the Far Western Garage Door

Association merged.

Insulated Door – a door that has been insulated to help with energy loss. The R rating depends on the

product used to insulate the door and the thickness of the insulation.

Injected foam: foam that is sprayed between the panels of a garage door section to provide insulating

properties with a high “R” rating.

Inside Lock – a garage door locking system that can only be locked and unlocked from inside the garage.

Jack Shaft – a garage door opener system that eliminates the need for an overhead carrier rail system as

the garage door is opened by way of a motor attached to the spring bar, only used with torsion spring

system.

J-Bar –  A “J” shaped bar (Looks like Hockey Stick) that attaches the garage door to the garage door

opener carrier.

Keypad – wireless keypad that allows opening and closing of the garage door by entering a selected code

on the keypad.

LiftMaster – manufacturer of garage door and gate openers for residential and commercial uses.

Linear – manufacturer of residential and commercial garage door and gate openers as well as radio

control and access control systems.

Lubricant – oils and grease used to lubricate garage door systems.

Lock: garage door locks come in many styles from slide bars to keyed locks for controlling access to your

garage.

Logic Board: electronic circuit board built into a garage door opener that communicates the commands

from transmitters and other devices to open and close the garage door. Similar to circuit boards within a

computer that recognize commands and prompts to perform certain tasks.

Low Headroom Track: this system is a double track design that allows garage doors to open and close in

a situation where head clearance is a problem using standard garage door tracks.

Long-Stem Rollers: rollers with stems longer than 4” inches used mostly for commercial doors or very

large heavy residential garage doors.

Manufacturers: companies that produce and make garage door and opener products.

Marantec: German based company that manufactures garage door openers and accessories. Opened an

America based plant in 1997 in Gurnee, Il.

Metal Rollers: garage door rollers with metal wheels, can be with or without ball bearings.

MyQ –  home automation product manufactured by Chamberlain and LiftMaster that allows you to open

and close your garage door and turn lights on and off via a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Nylon Roller – Garage door roller with wheels made of nylon material.

Overhead Door – term used to describe a garage door, but also a company that manufactures and sales

garage doors, garage door accessories, garage door openers and garage door opener accessories.

Plastic Rollers – garage door rollers with wheels made of plastic material.

Rail: the rail is the part of the garage door opener that attaches to the motor and the header of the

garage door. The rail also houses the screw, belt, or chain that actually opens and closes the garage

door.

Roller – the component of the garage door that helps hold the door in place and travels in the tracks as

the garage door opens and closes. Rollers can be made of metal, plastic and nylon and can be with or

without ball bearings.

Roll Up Door: usually used for commercial applications, the door does not utilize horizontal tracks as the

doors rolls around a cylindrical coil spring.

R Value – the value of thermal resistance use in the building and construction industry.

Residential – term use to describe uses for homes as opposed to commercial applications.

Screw Drive – a type of garage door opener that utilizes a screw attached to the opener motor that drives

the garage door when opening and closing.

Short Stem Roller: a garage door roller that has a 4” inch long shaft. Used for most standard residential

garage doors.

Single Car Garage – a garage designed and built to accommodate only one vehicle.

Spring – typical garage door springs are either extension or torsion springs that provide the

counterbalance for the weight of the garage door, making the door easy to open and close.

Steel Back – this refers to a door with steel panels on both sides with foam insulation between the two

panels.

Stile – metal brackets that provide structural support for the garage door and mounting locations for

hardware.

Strut – metal reinforcement pieces that attach horizontally across the inside of garage door to add

strength to the garage door. Prevents sagging and bowing to wide heavy garage doors.

Smartphone Control: home automation programs available that allow you to open and close your

garage door from a smartphone or tablet.

Torque master – counterbalance spring system designed by Wayne Dalton where the spring(s) are

contained inside a steel tube that is mounted above the garage door opening.

Torsion Bar – steel bar mounted above the garage door opening that holds the torsion spring(s) with a

drum mounted at each end of the torsion bar.

Track: garage door tracks are made of steel and help support the weight of the door as the door opens

and closes and hold the door in place. The tracks also carry the rollers as the door travels.

Transmitter – transmits a radio signal that opens and closes the garage door, the garage door remote is

the transmitter with a receiver located within the garage door motor housing.

Trim: wood or vinyl molding around the garage door opening that helps to create a seal between the

garage door and the garage door opening frame.

Two Car Garage: a garage designed for two vehicles at minimum 16’x20’ but can be larger.

U-Value: measure of heat flow through insulation or building material: the lower the value, the better

the insulating ability.

Universal Remote: a garage door remote that can be programmed to work with many different garage

door openers and even different brands of openers.

Weather-strip: rubber seal or gasket that helps prevent wind and moisture from entering through an

opening, like a garage door or window.

Wind Load –  the ability of a product, garage door, to withstand high speed winds, such as hurricanes and

tornadoes.

Vertical Track: the section of track that runs vertically beside the sides of the garage door opening.

Vault Lock: lock system that allows you to enter through the garage door if the opener or remote stops

working. Lock and cable system that attaches to the garage door opener emergency release cord

allowing the door to be disconnected from the opener trolley from outside the door with the door

closed.

Z-Bearing Roller – rollers with ball bearings that are sealed to prevent dirt, moisture and other

contaminants from harming the ball bearings.

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Wayne Dalton Torquemaster spring system is a system that was developed in an attempt to improve on

the torsion spring system. Torquemaster systems use a spring system that is enclosed inside a hollow

torque tube that mounts on the header above the garage door opening.  It is similar to a standard

torsion spring system in that it uses cables and drums to do the lifting with the spring(s) providing the

force to balance the weight of the garage door.

Torquemaster systems are sold exclusively by Wayne Dalton and several changes have occurred over

the past few years  to the Torquemaster system in an attempt to improve its function. The

Torquemaster system utilize smaller springs that are inside the torque tube rather than the larger higher

rated springs in standard torsion springs. It is very difficult to tell if a Wayne Dalton Torquemaster spring

has broken because the spring is not visible. The only way to diagnose this is if the door is difficult to

open. In standard torsion spring systems you can visibly see that the spring is broken.

The Wayne Dalton Torquemaster system utilizes parts similar to a standard torsion spring system, but

also use more moving parts that can fail. First there is a torque tube that holds the spring(s) inside it

along with a plastic spacer tube to prevent the spring(s) from rattling as the garage door opens and

closes. There can be one or two springs in this system, but the only way to know is to look for the

adjustment cone and gear at each end. In one spring systems the adjustment cone will be only on the

right side and in two spring systems there will be an adjustment cone and gear on each end. 

These gears, whether made of metal or plastic, are another point of failure not present on standard torsion

spring systems.  Torquemaster utilizes a center support bracket, but it is only to support the weight of

the torque tube. The end plates are also different. Torquemaster end brackets are designed to hold the

adjustment cone and gears. Then there are the drums and cables. The drums are made of plastic and are

only about 2 inches in diameter as opposed to the 4 inches or larger for standard torsion spring systems.

The smaller drums require longer cables. The smaller drums also require winding the springs more,

which causes the spring(s) to fail sooner.

Wayne Dalton Torquemaster spring systems as we have already discussed  uses springs that are hidden

inside the torque tube. This, at first, seems like a reasonable idea as if the spring is inside the torque

tube it will be protected from dirt and rust that cause premature failure.  The problem is that the springs

are made with a much smaller gauge wire that has to be wound more. This additional winding leads to a

shorter life for the springs. Another problem with the Torquemaster design is that it uses a gear box at

the ends. These gear boxes whether made of plastic or metal are subject to breakage and failure. The

Torquemaster system also utilizes smaller drums which in turn calls for more winds of the spring. The

more you wind a spring the shorter the life span of the spring. These factors lead me to the opinion that

the Wayne Dalton Torquemaster system is far inferior to a standard torsion spring system.

If you have a Wayne Dalton Torquemaster system and the spring(s) have failed, it is possible to replace

the springs, although we recommend converting to a standard torsion spring system.

If you choose to repair the Torquemaster system it will require quite a bit of time and labor. First you

must release any tension on the spring(s). To do this you will have to loosen the retainer bolts at the

ends by the adjustment cones and gears. Depending on what model system you have you will use a drill

with a socket adapter or wrench to unwind the tension on the spring(s). The adjustment cone has

numbers from 0-20. When the spring is completely unwound it should have the zero lined up with the

hash mark. Once the spring is unwound you will have to disassemble the winding cone and gears. It is

important to inspect the gears for damage and replace if necessary. Start on the right side of the garage

door and then proceed to the left side. There will only be an adjustment cone and gears on the left side

if the system has two springs. Once the left side is disassembled , the center support bracket tab must

be bent to allow the torque tube to be removed. Next you will have to remove the torque tube and

place it on the ground. Next you will need to remove the spring from the right side and then from the

left side if two springs are present. Removing the springs can be difficult as the plastic spacer must also

be removed from the tube along with the spring(s). Once the old springs are removed you will need to

install the new springs and plastic spacers into the torque tube. When installing the new springs it is

normal for a small portion of the spring as well as the shaft to extend out past the end of the torque

tube. You will need to use vice grips to hold the springs in place while you raise the torque tube and

reinstall the adjustment cones and gears. Start reinstallation on the right side and then proceed to the

left side. Once you have reinstalled the adjustment cones and gears you will need to rewind the

spring(s) using either an electric drill or wrench depending on the system you have. Start with the right

side and then proceed to the left side. The number of winds required is dependent on the height of the

garage door. Before you begin you will need to get accurate measurements of size and weight of the

garage door so that proper replacement springs are ordered. You will also have to order appropriate

replacement gears and adjustment cones if needed for your Wayne Dalton Torquemaster system.

As I stated earlier we recommend converting Wayne Dalton Torquemaster systems to standard torsion

spring systems. The standard torsion spring system parts are more reliable and more readily available. I

also like being able to visually inspect the spring(s) and to perform periodic oiling of the standard torsion

springs. Keeping the torsion springs lubricated helps prolong the life of the spring(s) and helps reduce

stress on other components of the garage door system.

The post What is the Wayne Dalton TorqueMaster springs system? appeared first on Veteran Garage Door Repair Dallas - Fort Worth | No Drive Up Fee.

The EZ-Spring system is a spring system that was designed by Ideal Door and is now sold under the Ideal

Door name and Clopay name. The EZ-Spring system was designed to make installing both extension

springs and torsion springs easier and safer. Both systems work very similarly to standard extension

springs and torsion springs.

EZ-Set Extension Springs:

Extension springs are mounted above the horizontal tracks on both sides of the garage door. The

extension springs attach at the top end to the garage door track support brackets . The other end of the

spring is attached to a pulley using a fork. A cable that attaches to the bottom bracket on the bottom

panel of each side of the garage door travels up the height of the garage door around one pulley and

then around the spring pulley. The cable then attaches to an adjustment bracket that connects to the

track braces. The springs are then adjusted by feeding the cable through the adjustment clip. The

springs counter balance the weight of the garage door making it possible to open and close the garage

The EZ-Set  extension spring system uses a spring stretching mechanism that is secured to the track near

the front fixed pulley. A cable in the stretching mechanism runs through a pulley attached to the

extension spring then around the front fixed pulley  and down the door to the bottom bracket where it

attaches on each side of the door. A standard drill is then attached to the spring stretching mechanism

and the cable is shortened which in turn stretches the spring, counter balancing the weight of the

garage door. If both extension springs are properly stretched, then the door will be balanced.

In all extension spring systems, standard or EZ-Set, it is highly recommended that a safety cable/ spring

containment cable be used to prevent the spring from flying loose causing serious damage to property

and serious damage even death to people and animals. The safety cable/spring containment cable is a

cable that is attached at each end to the garage door track brackets and runs through the entire length

of the extensions spring. This cable controls the spring if it breaks preventing the spring from becoming

Torsion springs are the standard in the garage door industry today. Torsion springs are a system of

springs that counter balance the weight of the garage using a spring bar/torsion tube mounted above

the header of the garage door opening on the inside of the opening. This system utilizes a center bracket

and bearing along with end bearing plates and drums and cable on each end of the spring bar/torsion

tube. This system works because the spring(s) are wound, the spring(s) provide the force to counter

balance the weight of the door. Cables are attached to the bottom brackets on the bottom of the

bottom panel/section on each side of the garage door. The cables run up the height of the garage door

and the attach to the drums that are on both ends of the spring bar/torsion tube. The cables wind

around the drums as the garage door opens, and unwind as the garage door closes. The cables and

drums do the lifting while the spring(s) provide the force. The center bracket in the system secures the

spring(s) to be wound. The spring bar/torsion tube runs through the center bracket and each end of the

spring bar/torsion tube goes through the end bearing plates, securing the spring bar/torsion tube at the

ends. The drums mount on the spring bar/torsion tube at each end and are mounted to the inside of the

end bearing plates. In regular torsion spring systems the springs are mounted at or near the center of

the garage door and can utilize one spring, two springs or multiple springs. If more than two springs are

used, then extra center brackets and bearings must also be used. The number of springs needed to

counter balance the garage door is based on the weight of the garage door and its components.

The EZ-Set torsion springs work the same way as standard torsion springs, but the application and parts

are different. The EZ-Set torsion springs do not utilize a center bracket and bearing, but do utilize a

center support for wide and or heavy garage doors. In the EZ-Set system the spring(s) do not mount in

the center of the garage door, but to the sides. They still utilize end bearing plates, but these plates are

different than the ones used in standard torsion spring systems. The EZ-Set torsion spring system uses a

different winding system. Standard torsion springs are hand wound using winding bars. EZ-Set torsion

springs are wound using a standard electric drill. The EZ-Set system uses a different type of torsion

spring as well. EZ-Set springs have a cone at one end that attaches to the spring bar/torsion tube on one

end of the spring and the other end uses a cone that is attached to spring winder. The EZ-Set also utilizes

drums and cables that attach at both ends of the spring bar/torsion tube to the inside of the end bearing

plates. Rather than hand winding the spring(s), in the EZ-Set system a standard electric drill is attached

to the spring winder. The drill is then used to wind the springs to counter balance the weight of the

garage door. The EZ-Set system typically only uses one spring that is mounted on the left side of the

garage door, but you can order and install a second spring and spring winder that can be mounted on

the right side of the garage door as well.

The EZ-Set systems do provide an alternative to standard extension and torsion spring systems, but they

do have their own set of problems and limitations. In the extension spring system, you are depending on

an additional moving part to stretch the spring. The spring stretching mechanism can fail as well as the

spring, and using a drill to stretch the spring provides the added possibility of over stretching the spring.

The EZ-Set torsion spring system has limitations in the amount of weight the springs can lift and do not

provide options for more than two spring being used. There is also the added spring winder that can fail

as well as the spring. This spring winder is another moving part that will require maintenance and

eventual replacement. The use of an electric drill also brings up the issue of over winding the spring that

can cause premature failure and make the door too hot when opening.

It is my opinion that the EZ-Set system will work on smaller lighter doors, but a standard torsion spring

system is still a better choice. Installation of either system should only be done by a trained garage door

technician, and I believe the additional moving parts and limitations to weight on the EZ-Set systems

make it a less desirable choice. There will be added expense to an EZ-Set system as it requires the spring

stretching mechanism on extension springs and the spring winder on torsion springs.

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Garage door springs play an essential role in the safe operation of your garage door. The springs are needed to counterbalance the door, so it will be balance, not fall or shift to an angle as the door opens and closes. Springs are one of the most common garage door repairs, as they can be damaged by corrosion and use throughout time.

The lifting force of the spring must be adequate to hold the door and keep it properly balanced. Different garage doors require different sizes and numbers of springs. As an example, most residential garage doors have two springs, one for each side. Larger garage doors, such as those in commercial settings, often require four or more springs in order to properly balance the load.

IPPT is an abbreviation for inch-pounds-per-turn. Every torsion spring has this number so be sure you select the proper IPPT for your garage door. The wrong size IPPT can end up resulting in your door not being properly counterbalanced.

Kinds of Garage Door Springs

Torsion springs are commonly found on garage doors. A stationary cone ensures the spring is secured to the spring anchor bracket. The bracket is secured to the wall, so the cone doesn’t move. The spring’s other end has a winding cone, which is used during installation, adjustments and uninstallation of springs. When the spring is installed, the coils are wound up in order to create a lot of torque. The torque is applied to the shaft, with the end bearing plates holding up each end of the shaft. Cable drums rest against the bearings. The cable is tightly wrapped around the cable drum, then it reaches down to the bottom of the garage door where it is secured to the bottom bracket.

Extension springs are made specifically for the garage door’s height and to lift a specified amount of weight. Because of the pulley system, it will lift half of the weight it is indicated, so it takes two springs of the same capacity to lift the specified weight. To help with the process, extension springs are color-coded. Just as the name implies, extension springs extend then contract as a garage door opens and closes.

Some companies have come up with specialized spring system designs for their garage doors. Among those are the Torquemaster Spring System, which was made by Wayne Dalton. It has a counterbalancing system that keeps the springs inside a steel tube. EZ-Set Garage Door Torsion Springs are for specific models of Clopay doors. They are designed to simplify the installation process, using common tools rather than specialized tools some doors require.

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