Posted earlier the spring is 0.33" diameter with a height of 0.13"
The dipstick tube inside diameter is 0.5"
NO way did it come from outside NO WAY! it is from inside the tranny
Just completed cutting the paper filter apart
Lots of tell tale signs - small flakes of broken spring and bits of rubber
Best guess now
TCC accumulator valve in pump
Or drain back valve in the back of input shaft
Either way the tranny has to come out
Not exactly having fun at this point in time
On the positive side my shop's HVAC system is fully function
Needed the "H" function today