Unable to separate fork!

[ptexotik]

Please remember who was the one who couldn't take a simple fork apart.

so not only sketchy eyes ... but your reading comprehension is showing signs of fatigue ... as one leg popped apart per normal ... and then OP seeked advice before getting crazy with 'seized' part ?
personally, I'd move on

[Guest]

geez louise guys!! open your feakin' eyes! that's the seal ... not #8. notice how you wouldn't be able to squeeze together your ghost circlip! notice the similar looking holes in the seal sitting by itself! you think Superman stopped by to assist yanking all the hardware past #8 ??
and some of you are out riding on public roads!!
opticians maybe? juuuuz sayin'

Yeah just sayin...

[ptexotik]

Yeah just sayin...

hey, sorry for exposing the BS, but enough already! life is short.
(OP even mentions retainers being removed but for some strange reason folks wanna go off on some tangent.)