Over the last 40-ish years, those springs have become compressed. Many drummers will replace the springers with wingers. In order to "fix" the springer, you can replace the spring, or restretch it. They will continue to compress, so it is maybe better to replace it than to restretch it. Or replace them with wingers. At least they will hold.

As for a "proper position", I can't tell you there would be a certain position that is better than any other.