Shift rod - Update- new brass bushings, and another option-a 911 coupler from Rauch & Spiegel, Is this a normal looking rod? And how the heck do I get the pin out? Options

[DRPHIL914]

A few issues here , after the bushing disintegrated I ordered new stuff, a new firewall bushing from RIX914PARTS and other goodies from 914rubber.com, and a new brass bushing for the coupling, however I can’t get the pin out, and I’m going to mess up the pin end and it’s not going to slide thru if I do that- so I’m going to have to find a press I guess somewhere?
1. Should it be that tight ?
2. Is this a normal weld end?

[DRPHIL914]

Posting an update! I had given up after taking my bar to 2 different places that didn’t want to mess with it or were worried about messing up the coupling, so I mad arrangement to get a nice bar from Bruce Stone, and send it to Rauch and Spiegel in Co. you 911 and 356 guys know them as the company that makes the billet coupler unit that is a replacement for stock, btw this is identical to stock spec wise and is same as ours, the only difference is end of the bar on ours is welded to the real linkage bar, on 911 it is not as you can see in the pictures. Anyway Rauch will install their coupler, bushing and pin on our bar. The pin is different in that it has 2 cone screws that retain it rather than depending on the splines that’s are in a stock pin that hold it in place. So they will still and tap our bar end to be secured with their coupler!!
Now I suppose one could have them just send me the coupler and use the stock pin with any bushings desired as well, but I am having mine done by them, and will post the pictures of this when it come in. Rauch has been super cool to work with and amazing to offer to do this for just one person!
Meanwhile back at the ranch, I went out a bought a big heavy duty bench vice and after soaking my bar/pin in pb blaster , using the socket method I finally got it to budge!!!, and once extracted thru a 1 hour process , I cleaned off all rust from the pin, and using the bronze bushings reinstalled the bar to the car. I also got the bronze console bushing from 914werks and a firewall bushing from RIX914PARTS, and the new rear and feont covers from 914rubber.
Here are a couple pictures. Shifting is super tight and smooth, I would liken it to the Boxster for tightness now.
Bruce has a jig to align the bars . I think most people that have issues still have the issues due to bent or miss alignment of bars!
I have to thank Bruce for taking time to talk on the phone and help me out. I will be getting the other bar later on and will install it to compare the feel of these.
I think it’s great to have an option for a super nice coupler replacement.

Phil