Well Done Bonnar_Bloke
Those spring retainers are real buggers. Although embarrassing, I will tell you what occurred the first time I tried to remove these springs (on a Mac TM 251sst, which is the same as a Weedeater featherlite, and GMC trimmer).
Warning - this story is 100% stupid and 100% true
I had the motor partly disassembled (still attached to the curved shaft of the trimmer though), but couldn't get the springs off.
In a rising state of anger, I put it on the floor, used my feet like a vice, and tried to remove the springs (highly stupid with hindsight).
Well, the screwdriver slipped, I lost balance, fell over the engine (trying not to step on it), tripped over the curved shaft and ended up at a good jogging pace as I tried to get my feet back under me.
About 3m away (on brick paving) I finally fell over, took a little chunk out of my right knee, elbow, and a knock on the head. A bit of Mercurochrome later, I eventually got the springs off.
That's how i learnt not to use the end of the screwdriver to pry the spring off, but slide it through and use it like a handle
Regards
Tyler
