[cares]

Is there a tool to stretch a medium strength spring(approximately 4 inches long)? I have tried a vise grips and pliers but I can not get the spring to extend 1".
Any advise? Thanks

[OneMoreTime]

Maybe this is what you need:

"Basics of Basics" Hood hinge spring removal and installation.

Sam

[cobalt327]

Originally Posted by cares

Is there a tool to stretch a medium strength spring(approximately 4 inches long)? I have tried a vise grips and pliers but I can not get the spring to extend 1".
Any advise? Thanks

It would help to know what it is that you are attempting to do, and what size the wire of the spring is. I'm guessing this is an extension spring.

That said, spring steel does not like to be stretched beyond its yield point. If you do, you will get some additional length but at the cost of creating a different spring rate.

If you are very careful, and use some sort of heat sink to keep the entire spring from losing its temper, you can use heat to stretch it. Confine the heat to just the last couple of coils, keeping the rest of the spring either under water or wrapped in a soaking wet rag. Use a small, rather intense carburizing torch flame and work quickly.

A MUCH better idea is to get the correct spring in the first place.

[35WINDOW]

Like the others, I'm not sure of the strength of this Spring, but I noticed on My Harley a few weeks ago that the Kickstand wasn't staying where I wanted it, so I bought a new Spring, and was trying to figure out the best way to install it, when I remembered a trick that we used to tell guys who were putting a new Clutch return spring on 60-70 vintage Chevy's-

Clamp the spring in a Vise (on one end), then clamp a set of Vice Grips on the free end of the Spring-bend the spring over and put a Washer on that side and keep bending the Spring until you have as many Washers as you can get in that side-then, bend it the other way and put Washers in the other side.

When you are done, install the Spring, and close (or open) whichever way it takes to extend the Spring and the Washers will fall out-worked on my Kickstand!

[oldcarsdave]

I think I bought a spring removal/install tool from either Patricks or from Speedway(CRS). The trick with this tool is to use your floor jack to stretch the spring then insert the tool to keep it stretched. It is a very simple tool and can be made with a piece of large(2"-3" angle iron about 7" long(aprox. may differ with each app.). Weld on flat plates on both ends then insert in the stretched spring. Open the hood to were the spring catches and then open all the way and remove the tool. Bought my first one and made my own for another car.

[cares]

The spring I'm trying to stretch is on the brake pedal and to the frame. The current spring will not pull the brake back to cancel the tail lights. I don't know the correct spring because it is a '57 Chevy pickup with a front clip from a Monte Carlo.
I'll try the idea of putting coins in the spring to extend it.
Thanks for all the replies

[Henry Highrise]

Have you tried adjusting your brake light switch? Maybe its position has slipped.