spring hinge adjustment

Pretty sure this is an easy one but I've a single spring hinge on the door exiting to an enclosed garage. Fire door, I believe. The spring is adjusted too tightly and closes too fast/hard; it slams shut and shakes the walls.

The adjustment is made on the top of the barrel of the hinge, with a hex wrench, underneath a screw.

My question has to do with loosening the tension of the internal spring. I can't seem to turn the wrench the other way. The only thing I can think of is to take off the door. Thought I'd check here first.

Any thoughts on loosening this would be great!

Thanks.

 

If you can insert an Allen wrench into the adjuster and turn it, you are ONLY going to tighten the spring. To get it to turn the other way, insert the Allen wrench and push it DOWN about 1/4". Now you can relieve the tension as you continue to hold down on the Allen wrench.

 

I knew there was an easy answer, but that's about all I knew! That worked; although I just about broke my fingers once I pushed it down, but I got it adjusted to where the door just closes without the "earthquake"!

Thanks Lefty!