Most of ones I bring home are all dirty and rusty and don't just push down easy!
I first oil up good, wiggle stick,let set awhile, THEN try the pliers or have used two wood sticks to hold on each side of lever and push down, and hope to have enough grip to turn the cap. Once off, you can clean it up and lube, and sometimes even push back on by hand! After you take it out, if side pins are good shape in hole, take a 3/8" eye-bolt and put a couple of washers on it with a nut at top and bottom. Cut a groove in one side of washers to allow them to pass past the one side pin in hole. Washers should be about size of big top hole, but pass thru. Lower this device down into hole by putting one side below one side pin, and pass slot past other pin, turn it to have solid washer under the two pins, and pull up with your chain or hoist hook. We used to use this device or like it on factory 4-spds at work. You can swing them all over and good balance too. Just make sure you don't swivel the cut-out notch back under pin or it will let go! I made one and use it alot when I'm removing trans. I lift up on trans from inside with picker, but lower it down to floor and set on a roller dolley make of wood and roll out from under truck.
