My $.02...I bought a repro locking bolt spring from a member here, and after positioning it in the hole/groove the bolt would not go in...
After 15 or 20 frustrating minutes, I finally just pushed down on the 90º angle part of the spring with a brass punch and it 'popped' in place. Then it was just a matter of inserting the bolt and pushing down on the 'tab' of the bolt to get it to enter the hole on the other side.
