TallRider

I just had a frame modified with brazed-on posts for centerpull brakes. And I'm finding it difficult to snap the springs into place on the brake arm.
I got the front in after a few uncomfortable tries, and the rear is more difficult.
But I'm figuring there might be some technique of which I'm not aware. It's difficult to search for this on the internet because frame-mounted centerpulls are so rare.

Ideally, I'd have some kind of curved-ended tool to grasp the end of the spring (so spring can't slide out), where the handle is right-angled to the pulling surface (so I can easily pull the spring toward the bike's center). Almost like an eyelash tool in a makeup toolkit, but with a very small, very strong clamping end.

Any advice from people who've done this?

dsbrantjr

How about pulling it with a small loop of heavy wire or a hook made from coat hanger wire, held in a pliers from the opposite side of the frame?

Andrew R Stewart 

The Langley Fifth Hand tool might help, or give you ideas to make a tool. Imagine a skinny bar/rod of steel (like, maybe a large nail_. Drill a hole into one end just slightly bigger in diameter then the brake spring is, about 1/4 to 3/8" deep. Now slip the tool over the spring's end and you have a good "purchase" on the spring and can bend it easily. With only an 1/8" of tool overlap on the spring there's enough room for the arm's tab to be caught and the spring released in place. Andy

Vintage_Cyclist

I've got a bike with brazed-on centerpulls.You want to push it around the knob on the caliper.

A small open ended combination wrench should do the trick.Catch the bottom of the spring in the jaws and push it around the knob.

TallRider

Immediately after reading your post, it was clear this would work well. And it did. I'm kind of embarrassed to not have thought of this. Thank you.