Okay, I solved my problem about disassembling the hat.
BUT>>>
their tension adjusting method is a left hand thread bolt, drum key size head, that goes up into the bottom. APPARENTLY this would move a nut or something up and down the bolt to change tension.
Question: what the HECK do these things thread into? What's the assembly process?
Or... who the heck knows about this stuff???
I'm still trying to scheme up a workaround, but hey, maybe there's a way to do this right.
BTW, their hardware is really well designed and manufactured. Except for the adjusting screw... and that's just my ignorance...
DOH