Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners

I just got my used replacement Kick Start gear and it came without a spring. My new spring arrived and it does not look like an easy task to spin the attaching pin 180 degrees and plug it into the mounting hole. Does anyone know if there is an installation "trick" that makes it easier, or is it just going to take brute force?
Thanks for any advice. I am attaching a picture of my new spring and the old spring on the old gear.
Jim

I have this same question. Before I attempt this on my own. Can anyone offer a trick or procedure to put the kick start return spring in place? Maybe its already on a different thread that hasn't come up in my search?

There is no "easy" way to do it. Clamp the shaft of the segment gear in the jaws of a vice with copper vice jaws, so you do not mar the shaft. clamp it tight. using vice grips, get the straight shank of the spring in the hole of the shaft. Then using screwdrivers, lever the hooked end over the segment gear. After you do this, use a hammer and adjust the spring straight shank end to get it centered, and your done.