Shopsmith Forums

Back in December, at the start of winter my garage door spring snapped (a torsion spring). I hired a outfit to replace it and they did a fine job. It works all the time. I asked how I should lubricate the spring and he said, "don't put anything on it". That makes no sense to me. I used to drizzle 30 wt. oil, but I thought I'd ask this august group what's correct. And while were here what about the guide wheels that follow the tracks?

Thanks.

The torsion springs wind and unwind. If installed correctly, the coils are not so close that they bind with each other so I agree that no lubrication should be needed. Lubrication might actually make things worse as it collects dirt and dust which can cause more coil binding than clean springs.

Torsion springs seem to break a lot more often than the long springs did. It is just the nature of them.

berry wrote:Back in December, at the start of winter my garage door spring snapped (a torsion spring). I hired a outfit to replace it and they did a fine job. It works all the time. I asked how I should lubricate the spring and he said, "don't put anything on it". That makes no sense to me. I used to drizzle 30 wt. oil, but I thought I'd ask this august group what's correct. And while were here what about the guide wheels that follow the tracks?

Thanks.

I had my garage door replaced 6 or 7 years ago. No lubrication any where. It actually makes no sense to me why you would lubricate the torsion spring. It is a spring, why would you lubricate it? As for the tracks, the rolers on my door are hard rubber. They are ball bearing and I suspect the rubber is much quieter than steel rollers. Being rubber they do not require lubrication

I was told standard grade torsion spring last about 7000 cycles, higher grade torsion springs can last as long as 10,000 cycles.
I was told not to oil them. Inward told to use silicon or dry graphite lube on hinges. Rollers if steel can be lubed but nylon do not need it.