Garage door drums are a component of garage doors, and they’re essential for the smooth operation of your garage door. They work alongside your springs to help you open and close your garage door smoothly. Garage drums also keep your garage balanced as it opens or closes - ensuring that nothing is ever out of place!
Three kinds of cable drums correspond to three garage doors: standard-lift, vertical-lift, and high-lift. One of the parts included in your door installation is the cable drum. This helps balance your garage door and keep it from swinging out of control with the springs.
A standard-lift cable drum has grooves up to the end and towards the center of a regular rotation. Most turns are higher than others. The design helps your garage door open equally on either side, without imbalance.
You'll need a cable drum of the right size for your needs. Standard-lift drums come in three diameters: 4", 5-1/4", and 8" as well as corresponding numbers related to their capacities, such as 12', 15', or 20'. They are identified by either inch of feet on the outside edge of each drum, depending on which manufacturer you go through. Dimensions have never been more important than they will be when attaching cables!
Vertical-lift cables are higher than the standard cables that operate most of today’s garage doors. When a door closes, the cable is tenser and farther from the drum; it will wrap onto and move closer to the post as it opens.
When installing a new garage door, it is vital to consider the height of the drum. There are three sizes available: 8-1/2", 11", and 13-1/2". Additionally, each cable drum will come with an additional number that tells you how much weight it can safely handle.
The cable drum, which has a capacity of 28 feet and can be ordered for either 1-inch or 1.25-inch shafts, is one of the components included when your garage door springs are being replaced.
High-lift drums are flat like standard drums and raised like vertical-lift drums. The cable runs on the flat portion when the door opens vertically and quickly switches to run horizontally by going over the top of the drum.
If you are purchasing a garage door drum, it is crucial to get the right size. The cable drums come in 4-inch, 5-1/2-inch, 5-3/4-inches, 6 3/8 inch, and 8-inch diameters for the flat portion of the track. These also have a number associated with the diameter.
The heavy-duty cable drums are available in two diameters: 6.3/8" and 8". The cables can be ordered for either a 1 inch or 1-1/4 shaft, depending on what size you need.
