installing the BSA A65 kickstart spring

This seems nearly impossible. Try as I might I cannot get the spring to do what I want. And the flat plate with the tang is a lot of wishful thinking that it is going to stay on the shaft long enough to get the cover on. I spent 2 hours devising a special tool for the job only to find that the steel I was working with is something that work hardens immediately when drilling. It cost me 3 deming drills before I figured out what was happening.
My usual techniques are coming up short. 'elp!

Wear thick gloves or you will lose a finger, the A65 uses the same setup as the C15, twisting it enough turns to set the preload makes it near impossible to control and then fit over the flats on the shaft. I drilled a hole on the tab for the spring hook so it could not slip off on my C15, but what I did next is lost in the mists of time. Gavin on Britbike has a way of doing it, so PM him for the tip or search for it on Britbike forum.

Today is attempt #2 to make the special tool.

It took several hours to invent and make the tool. About one minute to wind up the spring and set the plate in position. A very effective tool. Too bad I rarely work on BSAs. A brilliant tool for an almost impossible job.

curious if anybody else would want this tool. The one I made is rough in appearance, it could be re-thought and make about 10 of them. Will the world beat a path to my door? How many people would be interested in this tool for approx $50? Personally, I would gladly pay $50 to make this job easy.

New to A65's myself, have just begun teardown, will have engine out of frame this week, I may just take you up on this tool offer when the time comes

OK

i know this is somewhat an older thread, but the A65 kickstart spring install is simple, 1-minute job with just a screwdriver. done it at least a half dozen times - next time i do it, i'll make a video, but in the mean time, you basically set the spring in place with the spring plate -- set the one end on the (fixed) engine anchor peg. using the end of the kickstart spindle as a fulcrum point, take a decent size flat head screwdriver and come in from the bottom-right of the spindle-fulcrum, grab the other end of the spring and rotate the screwdriver CCW until you can grab the tab end or the spring plate. as you rotate the spring end past the tab on the spring plate, the end of the spring will contact and rest on the tab and you can remove the screwdriver. at that point, with the screwdriver, push the spring end inward and the hook end will snap down, grab, and rest on the tab. piece of cake! sorry, no special tools needed. i will however, sell my screwdriver for 50$ - (sorry seattle##gs - just being a bit sarcastic)