Abu 7000C4 LD question

[Stuck]

I'm in the midst of tidying up a neglected 7000 lever drag but I've hit a snag. I want to remove the drag lever quadrant from the side plate so I can polish the corrosion from the quadrant and the other chrome parts. The thumb screws (nuts ?) that hold the RH sideplate onto the frame go through the quadrant, then through the sideplate and they seem to be flared inside the sideplate which is what's preventing me from dismantling the assembly. Item #43 on this schematic is the sideplate and it shows that the sideplate comes pre-assembled with the screws and quadrant fitted  . Any advice on how I can remove the screws from the sideplate without causing too much damage will be greatly appreciated.


http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB0QFjAAahUKEwjm8Z62nebGAhUk26YKHTkMBIc&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ereplacementparts.com%2Fabu-garcia-7000-c4ld-ambassadeur-parts-c-187196_187197_187642.html&ei=aharVeaUE6S2mwW5mJC4CA&usg=AFQjCNGOrHUQkAlQB66K7yaZR2Jw50VdKA
Thanks in advance,
Anthony.

[RamseyReelRepair]

So I don't know if it's the right thing to do but I use a pair of needle nose pliers to close the flange and those thumb screws slide right out. Just be careful not to break off the tabs on the flange when you bend them in our out.

West