XJ650 air assisted forks assembly question

Hello, This is in regards to a 1982 XJ650 air assisted (Canadian model). This is my first rebuild and am enjoying it except am tired of seeing the bike on blocks!

Stuck on putting the forks back together. If I have it right, the spring, the seat, the spacer (longish metal bar), gasket, circlip and eventually the air valve. So the question is, when just looking at the whole thing, how does one get the pressure to force the spring and spacer in place? It seems near impossible. The spring sticks out a few inches and to add a few more inches of a spacer and push it all in? Am I missing something here??? This is the only part of the disassembley I didn't see and so don't know how it came apart or the level of pressure there was.
thanks!

 

I used a long furniture clamp and a socket. I removed the shraeder valve until after the circlip was installed above the plug.

Gary H.

 

Got them together and the new seals are not leaking. thanks!