Stradic C3000HG K Drag Knob

[LAHossman]

A customer brought me a Stradic C3000HG K spinning reel with the drag knob seized to the spool shaft.
Any suggestion on how to go about getting it off. I got into the reel and freed the spool shaft from the
slide and removed spool with shaft attached. Thought I could get some vice grips to hold the spool shaft
and use some pliers to twist the knob by the knob tabs. Did not workk. Not worried about busting up
the drag knob. Just curious if anyone else has run across this. Thanks