You _could_ go to the local McParts and get a couple - as in two - motorcycle tiedowns. These are straps made with nylon or rayon or some other miracle-lon fabric and have big hooks on the ends and some type of latching/ratcheting mechanism. The manly ones have a test strength of thousands of pounds and will hold a 1500 lb. motorcycle right where you put it!

Take these two straps and (gently) run them through the center of the spring, then hook them together and rachet them down. Do one on either side of the spring. This will tie it in the compressed position so you can release the current compression tool and install a ?better? one.

I'm not sure how big the spring you are working with is, but if it is _really_ big - more than 6 or 7 inches in diameter, you might use three straps.

Luck!
kma

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74 Porsche 914 2.0 - 92k and counting
85 300 TD - 263k and counting
83 300 TD - 190k and counting
74 Harley Davidson Superglide - 38k and counting
68 Harley Davidson Sportster - currently in kit form