HELP! How do you remove a 355 spider's top release lever?

Guys,

I'm trying to remove my top release lever so it can be covered in tight fitting black leather to conceal all the scratches like I've seen on so many others. In order to do it, my upholstery guy says it has to come off. At another Fchat member's suggestion, he has started to drive the pin that holds it out. The top is fully down and he is driving the pin down and out the bottom. It came 1/3 of the way out easily but now seems to be stuck. He's afraid of damaging something if he pounds any harder. Is there possibly something else that needs to be done? Its just a round pin in a round hole so I don't see what else would be necessary. Any help or suggestions from someone who has done this before would be much appreciated.

 

Here's the final result of covering my 355 top release lever in leather. I chose to do this rather than repaint it. I think it looks much better than the "sticky" paint that it comes with and this should eliminate the typical scratched look that mine and so many others seem to have.

Next up, my parking brake handle!
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