Technical Gas Cap Spring - Are you kidding me?

[stevenk9958]

I have a 1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800 and removed the gas door and spring and went to re-install the spring. Is it just me or is this difficult to re-install? I've already destroyed one spring; and have tried at least a dozen times to re-install the 2nd spring I purchased with no luck. Has anyone discovered the secret to get this re-installed? Or, does anyone know of an alternative to this spring?

 

[124BC1]

I had a look at this spring on the Midwest-Bayless website - it doesn't look like it would be difficult to install.
Here's how I would try to tackle it -

1) I'd secure the gas door open using e.g. a length of tape.

2) Holding the spring as per this image (note which way around the semi-circular spring end is pointing), I'd insert the 2 spring ends into the mounting bracket holes.


3) Then I'd use either 2 very small self-locking pliers clamped onto the spring ends or insert something e.g. a small block of timber/rubber between the spring ends to prevent them from popping out of place during subsequent steps.
4) I'd insert something round shaped e.g. a metal socket extension bar, through the spring coils to keep everything aligned and act as a pivot for the next step.
5) Holding this pivot bar down i.e. away from the spring mounting bracket, I'd grip the semi-circular end of the spring and pull it upwards (i.e. wind the spring around the pivot bar), until I was able to hook it under the gas door.

Here's a pic to remind you of how the spring should look when installed:-