I'm the original poster. I need to clarify the type of
garage door I have. It is for a double garage, and it is
one large panel, about 6'6" x 18'. It is constructed of 2 x
4s and sheet plywood. On each side of the door there is a
bracket that hinges on hardware that is attached to the wall
next to the door opening.

When the door is closed the springs are stretched. When the
door is opened they contract. In the past when one of the
springs has broken I have held the door open using a 6'
ladder. Then I have released the safety catch, and the
broken spring came off very easily. When I attached the new
spring I had to stretch it perhaps an inch or so for it to
hook, and then I would re-install the safety catch.

I recently repaired the door by replacing some water soaked
crumbling areas with fresh, slightly thicker plywood. This
makes the door a little bit heavier, so that when it is in
the full up/open position it is not quite horizontal as it
was before. What I want to do now is, one side at a time,
is disconnect the two springs, and then move the metal
harness into which they fit, into the next hole. (There are
five adjustment holes provided, and mine is in the middle
one, so I can go two steps in either direction.) Then when
I reconnect the springs they will be stretched a bit more,
and thus pull the door up a bit farther.

The only track involved is part of the automatic garage door
opener, and I don't think it is relevant to my problem.
(But, I could be wrong, and I'm here to learn not argue.)

So, with that additional clarification, what do suggest for
a tool or device to stretch the springs that my 75 year old
muscles can't handle? :-)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"CWLee" wrote in message
...

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.

--
----------
CWLee
Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to sacred
cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not quotas,
and
promote for performance, not preferences.