How do you remove this handle?

[AndreiC]

I am trying to remove the interior of my 1970 M20E, and I got stuck removing the handle pictured below. I guess it is for the air vents for the passengers in the back seat. There is one on each side, and even though I removed the screw in the center, neither one seems to budge at all. I tried shaking it, pulling hard, no success. I don’t want to break them…

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Hank]

That's the seat recline lever for the two seat backs. With the screw removed, you should be able to wiggle it off eventually. 

[Fritz1]

spraying with penetrating oil might help to shake it loose

[Utah20Gflyer]

It pulls straight off,  I’ve removed those before so I am absolutely sure.  Yours must be on extra tight.  

[Hank]

23 minutes ago, Utah20Gflyer said:

It pulls straight off,  I’ve removed those before so I am absolutely sure.  Yours must be on extra tight.  

Probably hasn't been off for a couple of decades. My own was last off ~Oct 2007. Likely won't come off without some effort.

[Utah20Gflyer]

2 hours ago, Hank said:

Probably hasn't been off for a couple of decades. My own was last off ~Oct 2007. Likely won't come off without some effort.

If it were me I would spray in some lubricant,  then put a layer of high quality duct tape on both sides of the lever,  then carefully use some channel locks to gently rock back and forth while also pulling straight off.