Parking brake spring too tight

I took one of the drum brake parts off of the cable to paint it, now I can't get it back on because the spring is too tight. Is this normal? I can't figure out how to pull the spring back to fit the brake part back on. Any ideas?

I'm bumping this up because the forum was suddenly overrun by a glitch, which I had a problem with and have seen it going around

The spring that locks it (the cable) onto the backing plate ?

The spring that locks it (the cable) onto the backing plate ?

yep that one, I can't pull it back. The most I got it to move was wedging a screwdriver in there. Either it's a technical problem, or I'm too weak. Maybe I should call my cousins in to help.

never had a problem with it, just gripped it and stuffed it back through.