Plug removal

[got3fords]

I've installed several sets of garage doors over the years. The process is simple, but errors in judgement can be deadly. I just had a spring break a year ago, and replaced both. While I was at it I replaced all the rollers. Again, not mechanically difficult, but you must be diligent to be safe. I actually oil those springs annually with a very light spray... keeps the friction down. Balancing the load is important (spring tension needs to be equal), and minimizng load on the motor is also important.

Not hard work, but attention to detail is paramount for a safe installation that insures long life.

I really felt uncomfortable around those old tension springs, especially on those big heavy doors. With the door in the down position, those springs were under severe tension. Installed a lot of safety cables through those.
I remember one service call where the homeowner tried to work on his own door. He called us after he got the under side of his upper arm caught between door panels when it closed on him unexpectedly. You should have seen the size and color of that bruise. I but it hurt more than crushing my finger tip.

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[dtech]

I've installed several sets of garage doors over the years. The process is simple, but errors in judgement can be deadly. I just had a spring break a year ago, and replaced both. While I was at it I replaced all the rollers. Again, not mechanically difficult, but you must be diligent to be safe. I actually oil those springs annually with a very light spray... keeps the friction down. Balancing the load is important (spring tension needs to be equal), and minimizng load on the motor is also important.

Not hard work, but attention to detail is paramount for a safe installation that insures long life.

Agree with got3fords that it is likely a bad install - probably the springs weren't tensioned correctly, last time I worked on springs one had snapped and on closer examination the springs were of different sizes, small wonder one snapped. It was a heavy garage door and took a good amount of force to wind the springs. In my current home I have overhead openers (Raynor) belt driven and the pulleys are coated - so better hardware. Also when I replaced the springs found that there are cheap springs available, not worth buying. Below is what an installer has to say about the side mount openers, I think this is accurate. The problem with the Denver area in many cases is the rapid growth and all sorts of shoddy sub par construction using the cheapest (and often illegal) labor available.

Side mount openers are wonderful when installed correctly and on a good door install. Let me put it this way - you can have errors in the installation of your door that will run perfectly fine for years with a conventional trolly opener that will be brought to light with a jackshaft. They cannot be installed in certain applications and they are fundamentally designed to use the weight of the door for closing vs a trolly which can both push and pull.

 

[dtech]

I really felt uncomfortable around those old tension springs, especially on those big heavy doors. With the door in the down position, those springs were under severe tension. Installed a lot of safety cables through those.
I remember one service call where the homeowner tried to work on his own door. He called us after he got the under side of his upper arm caught between door panels when it closed on him unexpectedly. You should have seen the size and color of that bruise. I but it hurt more than crushing my finger tip.

yeah if you look into people get hurt sometimes badly tensioning the springs, I was happy to part with my wind sticks and retire from ever replacing gargae door springs.

 

[TJC]

I really felt uncomfortable around those old tension springs, especially on those big heavy doors. With the door in the down position, those springs were under severe tension. Installed a lot of safety cables through those.
I remember one service call where the homeowner tried to work on his own door. He called us after he got the under side of his upper arm caught between door panels when it closed on him unexpectedly. You should have seen the size and color of that bruise. I but it hurt more than crushing my finger tip.

Those springs under tension will break bones and possibly kill you!

Why is a person putting their arm between the panels of an semi open garage door? What is going on in their minds? Stupidity knows no limits.

 

[TJC]

Agree with got3fords that it is likely a bad install - probably the springs weren't tensioned correctly, last time I worked on springs one had snapped and on closer examination the springs were of different sizes, small wonder one snapped. It was a heavy garage door and took a good amount of force to wind the springs. In my current home I have overhead openers (Raynor) belt driven and the pulleys are coated - so better hardware. Also when I replaced the springs found that there are cheap springs available, not worth buying. Below is what an installer has to say about the side mount openers, I think this is accurate. The problem with the Denver area in many cases is the rapid growth and all sorts of shoddy sub par construction using the cheapest (and often illegal) labor available.

Side mount openers are wonderful when installed correctly and on a good door install. Let me put it this way - you can have errors in the installation of your door that will run perfectly fine for years with a conventional trolly opener that will be brought to light with a jackshaft. They cannot be installed in certain applications and they are fundamentally designed to use the weight of the door for closing vs a trolly which can both push and pull.

I just shake my head! Different spring sizes!?! Some folks shouldn't be allowed to boil water!

 

[got3fords]

Those springs under tension will break bones and possibly kill you!

Why is a person putting their arm between the panels of an semi open garage door? What is going on in their minds? Stupidity knows no limits.

I could never figure out how he did that. But he learned a lesson that day. Plus we sold him a new door.

 

[got3fords]

yeah if you look into people get hurt sometimes badly tensioning the springs, I was happy to part with my wind sticks and retire from ever replacing gargae door springs.

There are tension springs and then there are torsion springs. You wind the torsion springs. The old tension springs were just big ass springs that extended as the door closed, leaving them under load until the door is in the full open position. I have heard many stories about when those things snap and fly across the garage, taking out everything in its way.

 

[fob63]

I really felt uncomfortable around those old tension springs, especially on those big heavy doors. With the door in the down position, those springs were under severe tension. Installed a lot of safety cables through those.
I remember one service call where the homeowner tried to work on his own door. He called us after he got the under side of his upper arm caught between door panels when it closed on him unexpectedly. You should have seen the size and color of that bruise. I but it hurt more than crushing my finger tip.

Using bars to apply tension to those springs is about as deadly as it gets.

 

[TJC]

There are tension springs and then there are torsion springs. You wind the torsion springs. The old tension springs were just big ass springs that extended as the door closed, leaving them under load until the door is in the full open position. I have heard many stories about when those things snap and fly across the garage, taking out everything in its way.

I was speaking of the torsion springs.

 

[got3fords]

I was speaking of the torsion springs.

Both can be dangerous if your not paying attention.

 

[TJC]

Both can be dangerous if your not paying attention.

Like my Daddy always said when I did some stupid boneheaded thing that resulted in suffering... "Pain hurts! But it will feel better when it quits hurtin'. Don't do it again!"

 

[JohnnyO]

Not sure what direction to go. Quote was around $400.

I got a set of NGK Ruthenium plugs from Rock Auto for about $50.
Changed them myself in a half hour.
Do it when the engine is cool.
If you use anti-seize just use a tiny dab, too much and they won't ground properly.
A dab of dielectric grease on the top of the plugs doesn't hurt.
Torque spec is only like 10 ft. lb. The bolts on the coil packs are a bit less than that.
With NGK Rutheniums you may never have to change them again.

 

[RangerBill]

I got a set of NGK Ruthenium plugs from Rock Auto for about $50.
Changed them myself in a half hour.
Do it when the engine is cool.
If you use anti-seize just use a tiny dab, too much and they won't ground properly.
A dab of dielectric grease on the top of the plugs doesn't hurt.
Torque spec is only like 10 ft. lb. The bolts on the coil packs are a bit less than that.
With NGK Rutheniums you may never have to change them again.

Engine should not be cool when changing the spark plugs, it should be warm but not hot.

 

[2021Ranger]

Is there room to pull the coil out of the last plug and remove the SP with out removing stuff that’s in the way?

 

[RangerBill]

Is there room to pull the coil out of the last plug and remove the SP with out removing stuff that’s in the way?

Yes, it can be removed without removing anything else. It is somewhat difficult to reinstall the coil on #4 as it has to be installed on an angle. Using dielectric grease inside and outside of the coil boot helps with the install. If you develop a miss after the spark plug change, it is likely that the #4 (nearest the firewall) is not installed properly on the plug.

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