Birch spring removal??

[a12548]

Picked up a Birch..seems ok except the gears were gummed up badly. The spring seems to be unbroken, but I need to regrease it and cant get the barrel free so I can open it up.
I got everything apart, except the spindle gear that pierces thru spring. There is an odd U clip as pictured, but it doesn't seem like a simple push clip, its all one piece that spins freely. Has anyone popped one of these out? I also tried unhooking the spring off the spindle by twisting and hoping for an 'unhook', but not easy.

[a12548]

Ooops sorry..posted in Machines forum...please move to appropriate forum..thanks!