Best Garage Door Opener Parts for Your System

The primary purpose of pusher springs is to maintain constant cable tension when a garage door starts its downward cycle. This is particularly crucial for standard lift doors, which lack the natural downward force present in high lift or full vertical lift doors. When an opener initiates the door's operation from the open position, there is a tendency for the door to jump initially, potentially causing the cables to slip off the drums.

Pusher springs create a downward acting force against the top section of the garage door, preventing the cables from slipping off the drums. This feature is most often required when jackshaft side mount openers are installed on standard lift doors, as these doors lack the inherent downward force.

Another secondary benefit of pusher springs is the prevention of the door from flying off the back end of the horizontal tracks due to user or operator error. This is especially relevant for manually opened and closed doors, where the user might fling the door open with excessive force, a common occurrence in loading dock bays and storage facilities.

While pusher springs are sometimes referred to as plungers, bumpers, or stoppers, they should not be confused with a different part called a leaf bumper. Pusher springs are spring-loaded, while leaf bumpers are not. As the garage door travels towards the end of the horizontal track, the top section compresses against the pusher spring. When the door starts its downward movement, the pusher springs release the compression force against the top panel, preventing the sudden jump at the start of the door's travel. This push force is usually sufficient to keep the cables from slipping over the grooves of the drum.

If the goal is to prevent the garage door cables from jumping off the cable spools, pusher springs are the solution. On the other hand, if the aim is to keep the garage door from slamming into the track bolts at the end of the horizontal tracks, leaf-style bumpers are required.

Pusher springs are installed at the back of the horizontal tracks, compressing against the top section as the door opens. When the door starts closing, the tension is slowly released to prevent the sudden jump start that can cause the cables to slip off the drums.

In summary, pusher springs are an essential component in garage door systems, particularly for standard lift doors, as they maintain cable tension and prevent the door from flying off the tracks due to user or operator error. They are available in various sizes and configurations, with a pair of 15-inch pusher springs being a common option for most garage door systems in the United States.

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