Handbrake lever

[FCCOOL]

My wifes handbrake jammed up one day, a mechanic she knew f%^ked around with the lever till he got it half way down.
I now have the lever out of the car, its a little butchered but its a public holiday and i ned to get it fixed and back togother today.
I have taken the jamed rod out and got it back in, there are to ratchet arms,
if i get the rod behind them the ratchet works but the rod will just drop back doen and jamb if i take the button out, i can get the rod end infront of the arms but then the button sticks out to far and the button wont push in to disengage the ratchet.
from memory there should also be a spring.
how long should the spring be?
is the rod (button rod) held up by a button and spring only?
does the base of the spring rest on thetwo indendts in the lever tube?

[PaRaDoX]

not sure on the spring length but if it was me id go get a 2nd hander at the wreckers, just use transmission (park) to lock the car in a position

i never had the ratchet out only the rubber button/spring