I tried all the hard ways to get the spring hooked up, using screwdrivers, vice grips and an assortment of levers. The shop manual states what to do but not how to do it. Does anyone know an easy/correct method to do it?
the method used shown by Frank Delmonte on `Vintage British Motorcycles Repair` you tube
worked for me. He uses a short length of plastic pipe on the shaft that his hook shaped screwdriver pivots on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZbOkoMsllo
Hook one end of the spring into the casing and then tie a length of strong cord on the free end. Pull the cord until the free end of the spring can hook round the lug on the spring plate. It also helps to hold the spring plate in position by fitting a jubilee clip over the kickstart spindle. Works every time for me and the spring fits in a minute.
Got it, thanks guys.