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How to Properly Measure a Garage Door Torsion Spring Go Back to Main StarDoorparts.com Page
Step 1: Determine Wind Direction
Look at the end of the spring to determine the wind direction. If the end of the spring points in the clockwise direction it is a left wound spring. If the end of the spring points in the counter-clockwise direction it is a right wound spring. Please remember the side of the door a
spring is located on does not indicate the wind of the spring. Most
winding cones are color coded for hand identification. Right hand wound
springs should have red winding cones. Left hand wound springs should
have black winding cones.
Left Wind Right Wind
Step 2: Measure Inside Diameter (ID) Measure the inside diameter of your spring with a tape measure or caliper. Most common inside diameters are 1 3/4", 2”, 2 5/8” and 3 3/4". The chart below shows common
ID’s used by various manufacturers. If no manufacturers name is evident,
usually a part number on the cone will indicate the inside diameter:
134 or 175 = 1 3/4" ID
258 or 263 = 2 5/8" ID
375 or 334 = 3 3/4" ID 
Step 3: Determine Wire Size
WIRE SIZE: A spring's wire size can be determined by several different tools or techniques. Use of a caliper, micrometer, or wire gauge are common ways to determine a spring's wire size. If none of these tools are available, you can easily measure how many coils are in 20 inches then divide the amount of coils into 20. (Example: 20 ÷ 80 = .250) or simply measure ten coils of wire to the nearest 1/16th of an inch, and refer to the spring chart below. Important: the spring must be tightly compressed with no gaps with no tension. It's also a good idea to measure twenty coils as a double check.
Step 4: Measure Length of Spring Using a tape measure, measure the spring in its unwound state to measure the length of the spring (to the nearest half of an inch). If the spring is broken or distorted, you can either measure both segments or simply count the total number of coils and multiply by the wire size (for example, 120 coils X .250 wire = 30" and 120 coils X .375 wire = 45"). Measure spring only - do notinclude length of winding and anchor cones. 
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