Got it. I have left the benovelant order of CLOD.... co-operative league of dimwits..

..and got it OK. I was looking at it backwards, being left handed. Bantam 1, a factory rep that posts on several reel forums, set me straight.
He advised to assemble the eccentric and the lever first, then sneak the bent end of the spring into the little hole, then work the assy to get the straight end near its notch. Loop of the spring up.
Took all of 15 seconds this way.