I had to file down the link bar stud, press it out, before the plunger would come out or any of the parts. I got the retainer out with no trouble but the plunger is like half inch long and it will not come out with the stud in the way. Basically destroying the lifter. I guess I should have mentioned that in my earlier post. The second one I said "F**K it" and just drilled it out because I was either going to buy one or Hughes was going to warranty it.