Chainsaw Repair

     Howdy,
   I've had my best luck installing those springs with a small needle-nose vice grips. Wind the spring up in your hands to where it's about 10%- 20% smaller than the cavity it fits into. Then clamp unto the spring with the vice grips. The spring will be held in check by the grips, and easily put into place. By pushing down on the spring against the housing will keep it from rapid unwinding. Slowly release the spring until it expands in it's seat in the housing. Then adjust the pulley engagement tab on the center of the spring so that it is just barely touching the center post of the starter housing. This will allow easy installation, and engagement of the pulley to the spring. This works with a lot of different saws and where you clamp the spring involves some Kentucky windage. The upshot of it is that you want to clamp as much of the spring as you can without over-clamping. If you over-clamp the noses of the grips wont allow the spring to go all the way into the housing. The compression release will save a lot of pulleys.
Regards
Gregg 

Just got a note from JC360 the 288 is now a runner. He sent me three pictures that I will resize and post.

Attached are Jeff's pictures/