You want the pins straight, and parallel, with a gap approximately equal to two spring thicknesses. The gap is a guide, you might want it closer, for example an overcoil would like a very small gap (just free) as OH said. Depending on how the pins are installed and their spacing. One some older pieces they are spaced a bit, so you have to bend them toward each other, then straighten. I just use fine tweezers for this, like #5. Sometimes to widen the gap a little those are still too big, then I w