How to remove/replace this spring?

[O'Reilly]

On a Kuhn mower. The arm inside the spring is bent, and possibly the spring itself is too bent. It's screwed on to the tube at one end, and it looks like it won't come off willingly. Any ideas how to achieve this, gratefully received!

 

[Hair Bear]

If you try to unwind it in the normal manner the rotational force will make it grip tighter. I think you need to apply the unwind rotation to the very end of the spring which will naturally open and enlarge the coil slightly and maybe free it off.

 

[Welderloon]

Remove the pin from the clevis at the mower end (Remove split pin & knock out the short pin)
Once Spring & rod are free at that end remove rod pins in outer telescope on the headstock end.
Once pins are out, knock/manipulate shaft from inside telescope/spring.
This should leave the spring still attached to the telescope & the telescope end still attached to the mower head stock.
Rotate the spring from the telescope
Then take the Spring & rod to someone who can straighten both

Other option is remove pins from each end & take complete assembly to someone who can straighten.

 

[O'Reilly]

Remove the pin from the clevis at the mower end (Remove split pin & knock out the short pin)
Once Spring & rod are free at that end remove rod pins in outer telescope on the headstock end.
Once pins are out, knock/manipulate shaft from inside telescope/spring.
This should leave the spring still attached to the telescope & the telescope end still attached to the mower head stock.
Rotate the spring from the telescope
Then take the Spring & rod to someone who can straighten both

Other option is remove pins from each end & take complete assembly to someone who can straighten.

Brilliant, someone who knows exactly how to do it! Thank you!

 

[Wisconsonian]

If it's not obvious, to rotate the spring, you'll have to find or fabricate a tool that will grip the cut end of the spring in order to rotate it in a way that expands the spring to release the grip. You'll never get it off by turning the loose end of the spring. A slip joint pliers might work, something similar to a hydraulic cylinder pin spanner might work better.

 

[O'Reilly]

We took the rod out, and once it was out, the spring didn't look so badly bent, so we're going to leave it. The elongated hole at the end of the rod was broken off, so we're going to get a new rod to be on the safe side. It seems I was thinking it was more complicated than it is!
Thanks all!