EZ-Set Spring System

The EZ-Set Spring System is a torsion spring winding mechanism made by Clopay Building Products. Veteran Garage Door describes it as "a torsion spring system manufactured by Clopay that utilizes a gear box that winds the springs using a socket attached to a drill."

Standard torsion spring winding uses steel winding bars. The technician inserts the bars into holes in the winding cone and rotates the spring a quarter-turn at a time. A typical 7-foot door needs roughly 28 to 34 quarter-turns depending on spring gauge and door weight. If a bar slips during that process, the stored energy spins the bar violently. Winding bar slippage is a well-documented cause of serious garage door injury.

The EZ-Set system replaces the exposed winding cone with a plastic gearbox. The homeowner fits a socket onto a power drill, positions the drill on the gearbox, and runs the drill for the number of turns listed in the instructions. The gearbox reduces the torque at the drill and removes the need to hold a bar under spring tension at any point.

The system is proprietary. It works only on the Clopay door models that include it. Replacement springs and gearbox parts should come from Clopay or an authorized supplier. The gearbox hub and cone dimensions do not fit standard torsion spring hardware.

The winding cone on a standard torsion spring does the same job as the EZ-Set gearbox. Both connect the spring to the winding mechanism. The EZ-Set redesigns that connection to reduce the skill and physical risk involved.