throwout bearing return spring

Hey Everyone, I'm working on a 1963 cj5. I'm trying to find out where the return spring hooks on the bell housing at. I've felt around on the right side but couldnt' find anywhere to connect the spring.

 

On my 55 the return spring goes inside the bell housing, One end of the spring goes in a small hole in the throwout bearing and the other end goes in a hole on one of the transmission bearing retainer bolts.
The spring is not very long, maybe 2.5" overall.
I have successfully installed this spring from above through the inspection cover on top of the bell housing. Its a bear and requires some patience and dexterity........It may take several attempts. If you have small hands it may be easier, My hand would not completely fit through the inspection hole so I had quite a time with it.

If your spring is in this same location dont attempt it without first securing a long length of soft copper wire to the middle of the spring, Tie the other end off to the transfer case shift lever.
Reach in with the spring between your fingers ( you will have to do this all by feel but you can see inside with a small flashlight and orient your brain before you start ) and hook the spring in the transmission hole first, then reach in with some long stout needle nose pliers and grasp the other end, Hold on good and tight, if it slips it will come out of the transmission hole and you will have to start all over again. Carefully extend spring and guide through throwout bearing hole.
Its a real bear so be patient, Dont expect to get it the first time. Took me about 6 tries before I figured out how to hold the spring to get it started in the transmission hole.

Hope this helps, Good luck.

 

Thank you that helps a lot. Mine was already connected to the bearing so I was trying to figure out what it hooked to inside the bell housing. The bearing retainer bolts was about the only thing I could think of that it would hook to.

 

Mine does not connect to a front cover retaining bolt. That is a small (About 5/8" OD X 3/8" ID) boss cast into the front transmission cover. This little boss should be turned to the passengers side of the Jeep / transmission. Side closest to the front driveshaft. There is a hold on the outside of this boss, drilling into the center. This boss is only about 1/4" deep. The spring connects to the throwout bearing retainer, then the other end hooks through the inside of this boss, out throw the drilled hole. Look at your front cover, it is there. You may need to re-orient your front cover to get this part of the casting around to align with your throw out bearing carrier. There is a picture here on the forum, I think. I will look for it. R.