Throttle spring

[Mad Mac]

When I take my foot off the gas pedal the throttle activating lever on my RHD steering column is not fully returning to its correct resting position. That causes a fast idle, which I want to fix. Further inspection shows that the hook at the inner end of the throttle spring is not hooked around the small peg under the throttle activating shaft. When the spring is properly installed, that small hook and the larger one at the other end of the spring, create the tension that returns the foot pedal to its normal resting position (see photo).

So it’s a simple matter of connecting both ends of the spring to their correct positions right? Well, no, actually it’s not a simple matter at all! I have just spent a full hour trying unsuccessfully to do it and am now tearing my hair out. Is there a secret method known only to Ford Barners? Or maybe there is a special tool?