I used 2 tools. A crescent wrench and a hammer. I used a crescent wrench because it is about as wide as a typical ruler yet thick and strong. Slid it through the middle section of the s-spring. While pushing down firmly and evenly from side to side on the wrench, with the middle of the wrench pushing on the spring against the gears, my buddy used a hefty sized hammer and gave the spring a couple solid taps and got it started. You wont hurt those gears, with a solid hit from a hammer the spring gives in and slides right down the sloped teeth of the gears. Its seems brutal and unconventional, but in this case it works very well. That spring didn't even scratch the gears, it slid right down past them and the job was done.
Sometimes it really is in your best interest to bust out the hammer.
Chris