Silly me, I thought you had the coiled spring type retainer, it sounds like you just described the fender type, flat metal type of thing, whatever it was, it sounds like you got it whupped, Bravo!, As far as sparks jumping out of the transformer, one safety rule I left out, Never under any circumstance, play on the roof of your house during an electrical storm, simple yes, but it's kept me safe all these years..............