Flexstem buggeration

[NorthOfHere]

I've got a quill swap to do and I'm stuck. Is there a knack, or something I'm missing, when separating the quill from the stem ?

Bolts out - check
Elastomer removed - check
Nothing impeding stem movement- check

Bit of pry persuasion - check. No result.
An assertive tap with a rubber mallet and pry persuasion- check. No result.

I don't want to wreck it, obviously.

Am I being thick? Why won't it separate?

 

[Elev12k]

The stem rotates around the aluminium cilinder. It is a tight fit, but it can be removed. If I rember correctly what I did was bolting the left side of the shaft to the right side of the stem and rotate the cilinder out.

Between stem and aluminum cilinder there are two nylon bits. The nylon bits rotate around the cilinder.

 

[MSYT]

Have you pried out the aluminium washers from under the bolts too? They'll be holding the stem to the quill part