[TowerTalk] Ham IV rotator and WT-51 tower question

[Gary Slagel]

I hate to ask because this seems like a ridiculous question but here goes...
 
I've got a used WT-51 with a Ham IV rotator installed.  The whole thing is on the ground waiting for me to get it up.    This morning I ran out to take the rotator out and maybe get it rebuilt.  I can't get the rotator out of the tower!  I'd planned to get the rotator plate out and then just work the HamIV down to the bottom of the tower and pull it out the bottom but the rotator case is too big to slide down the inside of the tower.  The only thing I can think of to try is to split the case and see if I can work each side out of the tower but I thought I'd see if anyone had wrestled with this problem before and wondering if I'm just missing something obvious.  
 
Thanks for any input!
 
Gary