I tried that also. maybe the pick would have helped. I had a pair of right angle small pliers that I was using to hold and twist the coil. took me the whole first period of the B's game to get the damn spring in the holes. the right angle dental pick might help get the hook thru the hole. light wasn't the best in my apt. and with trifocals the holes in the trigger bar were disappearing. the proper tools for the job make al the difference.