Posted for "Tom Gourley" <tom.gourley@verizon.net>:

 This isn't a very elegant solution, but if I recall I disconnected the
over-center link from the gear leg.  I was then able to move the link far
enough to attach the gas strut without first compressing it, and then the link
provided enough leverage to compress the strut and re-attach the link.  At
least that's how I remember it, but as someone said, "Memory is the second
thing to go, and I don't remember the first."
 
 Tom Gourley