De-rusting G3 baby - getting tail back in?

[Artemesia's Garden]

Hey, I got a G3 baby with a rusty tail washer from Ponycon.  I have removed the rust but the clamp is too big to get back through that hole. Should I keep on trying with the hairdryer or do most people remove G3 clamps, use thread to get it back in then secure with cable tie? I have de-rusted hundreds of G1s but never a G3 so hoping for your good advice. Many pony thanks!

[Tabbyclaw]

Pop the head off, thread a loop of wire or dental floss through the tail hole into the body so that the loop sticks out of the neck hole, put the tail through the loop, and pull it all out the tail hole so the clamp catches on the inside.

-Tabby
the princess with claws

[Artemesia's Garden]

Gah! THank you so much! Where have you been all my life? 

[hathorcat]

Thats the only way I am ever able to put them back together I dont have the patience and the physics eludes me any other way