Asking for help using the translation property of the bone tool to make a slinky element unravel

I tried to illustrate in the picture what I am attempting to achieve, but I had to lower the quality to upload it. I have a rigged robot with a neck, which is separated into three components, lower neck (connects to torso), upper neck (connects to head), and slinky (connects from bottom neck to upper neck). The goal is, as you drag the upper neck, I was hoping to use the joint y translation to drag the neck to it constraint, while also dragging the slinky along with it, but keeping the bottom neck from moving.
My problem is that I can't seem to find any reproducible logic in using the joint translation property. Somsotmes it acts as intended, but most times it just drags all of the components up or down with what I am dragging... but whereas they all appear to be independent of each other. For example I am trying to have it appear as if it is unraveling the slinky as the neck is pulled up to its max y constraint.
Hopefully I illustrated what I am trying to do clear enough, and if not, please let me know if more information is required. I truly appreciate any and all help. I have been trying to comprehend how translation works for a few days straight, and I just dont seem to be acquiring the necessary knowledge. Also, it is difficul finding information about this bone property.
Thank you