Made the washer assembly to hold the springs from either end. Unsure what the AN part number is for the washer however the ID fits perfectly the 7/8" tube. Welded up nicely. My welding technique has improved as the build has progressed.
...unlike my ability to cut a slot in the 3/4" tube. I started by drilling holes at either end and then drilling smaller holes between as guides for the larger drill to go back over and through. It kind of became a mess when I used a 1mm cut-off disk to smooth the edges. The disk overran the end and cut into the tube. I will try again tomorrow.