If i recall right it's been sometime that i have removed the pull rod.But i think the pull rod screws into the "coupler"..The way again it's been sometime is that i have done this is i put the "coupler" _small rod that hold the pedal-- in a vise and turning the pull rod by hand to un-screw it from the "coupler"...But if you wait to the week end i just got a few of these H-H stands in that need some work iam planing to take them apart....Mikey

Hi Mikey! I've already got the lower pull rod removed from the coupler. I just don't understand what is holding that stepped rod into the coupler. I put a nut on one end of the rod and tapped it with a hammer to see if it would budge. It doesn't move! The coupler can't be removed from the tube without first removing the stepped rod. The 1971 parts list shows this lower pull rod with the coupler attached, but no stepped rod included. I can't figure out how this was inserted! If you can figure something out this weekend, let me know. Thanks for any help!

Problem solved! It turns out that the rod is held to the coupler by means of an allen screw. It can be accessed by moving the coupler to the position where there is a small hole in the tube. This hole is where I had another screw inserted to hold the coupler down further in the tube. The coupler was so full of old black grease that even with the coupler positioned correctly at that hole, you couldn't tell there was an allen screw there! Cleaned off some of the grease and the screw showed itself! Comes out with a 3/32" allen wrench and then the stepped rod can be lightly tapped out of the coupler. There is also an allen screw at the upper end of the coupler, which serves to hold the lower pull-rod. Even though this pull rod threads into the coupler, Rogers felt it prudent to use an allen screw to securely hold the rod into the coupler. I can now clean up the coupler and tension spring and re-grease them. Life is good! I hope others will find this procedure helpful and avoid the hassle I went through!