Mk2 gear box clutch release arm removal

So after removing my gear box to change the clutch it appears the clutch lever/arm is incredibly stiff ie can only move it by using a hammer to tap it back and forth, was like this when i bought the car hence the clutch issues.

I take its probably seized so will require removing and cleaning up?

How does it come out, i removed the top cir-clip and tried to tap it out but no joy?



The nut to left of the shaft holds the casing onto the gear side of the box so this isnt a clue to its removal either.

You need a puller on that Matt, but having said that, it looks from the angle of the pic you have little to no step to get a purchase on the arm. One trick is to use some heat on it but on one spot only, and keeping the flame away from the spline with the arm supported with something to tease it off and give the end of the spline some short sharp taps with a hammer.

The old trick of swabbing the arm in cotton wool and left soaked in vinegar overnight may just get you out the shit, like i mentioned before with your last rust problem you had. You may need oxy/acetylene on it though to put real heat into it as, i recently have to do this but until the cast arm was transparent with the amount of heat put in, only then the three legged puller i got on it started to do its work but even then, it was hard going winding the puller with a ratchet on the end !!