The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Clamshell advice

I was putting a cable retractor and cable together today and ran into a few questions regarding clamshells.
1. How do you remove the release levers from their shafts on the tailgate. Theset screws come out, but then....that's it. Does the whole mechanism need to come out the side, or can the handles actually be pulled off?
2. Has anyone ever thought of raising the upper hinges up about 2-3 inches so that maybe they don't bang their head on the open clamshell each and every time? I'd like to know if anyone has done it successfully.
3. Where does the inch long, diameter of a penny, spring go on the lower clamshell cable? Forward of the cable guides?

Thanks if anyone can answer.

Well, looks like i can answer my own questions-'cause noone else has!
The shafts that the handles are on are striaght. There is no peening or any thing else. Once the handle screw came out, I used a slide hammer with a small hook bit. They are on very tightly. After some movement up the shaft, I was able to get a pair of pliers around the shaft under the handle and tapped the pliers with a hammer until they came off.
I put the spring (question #3) at the end of the retractor tape and it seems to work OK. Maybe a new spring with a little more guts would be better.
As far as moving the hinges up, I'd still like to see if anyone has done it.