CWLee wrote:
I have an old style overhead garage door, which incorporates
two springs on each side to more or less counter-balance the
door as it is opened and closed. Each spring is about 24"
long. I've lived here 27 years, and now and then one would
break, and I would replace it, with a little grunting and
straining.

Now, I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I cannot pull
the springs enough to un-hook or re-hook them. I'm
wondering if there is a tool or device used by garage door
specialists to stretch these springs for easier installation
and replacement.

Any ideas?

Many thanks.


I would imagine you could hook the back end of the spring in place and
then use a "come along" between the front spring hook and a spot on the
track frame near the door opening to stretch the spring as required to
be able to hook the moving cable pully onto it.

You ARE doing this with the door fully up, aren't you? By that I mean
pushed up to the point where the moving pullies will move as far back as
they can, and the door held stopped there with a pair of vise grips or a
C-clamp on the track.

I'm a bit suprised, because usually, if the springs are sized right for
the door weight, they'll pretty much have no tension on them when the
door is fully up.

Perhaps you got the wrong strength springs?

With the springs disconnected, weigh the door by lowering it onto a
bathroom scale. If it's heavier than the scale can accomodate, make a
simple lever from a piece of board and a brick to multiply the scale's
range. Then make sure you buy a pair of springs rated for the measured
door weight.

HTH,

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.