Taking apart the distributor, confused

here's a pic, I already took the 2 upper rings off, what I want to get out is that part in the middle so I can sand the rust off. I have no idea how to take it off, do I pull? is it connected to the inside of the dist? please help anyway you can, thanks http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/358681dist.jpg

Do believe it's the same as taking the pick up coil out, you have to remove the distributor. Your talking about the hall effect gear right?

that keyed cylinder with the spikey ring on it, i want to remove that

Yeah that's the hall effect system. I pretty sure your have to remove the whole show.

Yeah that's the hall effect system. I pretty sure your have to remove the whole show.

...alright then, I really don't want to do that, what are the reasons the hall effect system is rusted? the old cap has burn marks all inside it, I'm wondering a few things, do I need a new distrubutor(:uhoh: ), what really needs to be replaced/fixed if not the whole thing?

Rust, probably form constant extreme heat, then cooling combined with some moisutre that lurked it's way under a warped cap. Just make sure you mark the orientation of where the rotor should be pointed to and the base of the distributor to the intake manifold. Getting it out, that's easy, getting it back in takes a little finesse but you'll know when you get it back in if something isnt' right. I think there's a slip ring at the base of the shaft you have to remove to get all that out, and that's why is has to be removed.

Sorry but time to go.