Can't disassemble american standard bathroom faucet to change the valve cartridge

[HydroAirJoe]

I have a 20-year-old American Faucet Bathroom faucet. I am trying to change the valve cartridge. The first obstacle was the handle was seized to I had to drill the screw out (I hope I can find a replacement). The second obstacle, for the life of me I cannot remove the faucet trim. Looking at online videos from American Standard it looks like the piece would simply pull off when you removed the handle. I cannot pull this piece up nor can I unscrew it from the base trim (refer to attached photos). FOr the life of me what is the trick of disassembling this?

 

[HydroAirJoe]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18tc1P3WUgF2g4O6nUNDZ90XkKKpYrnO3/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15OKMUkES-ImRwzuSP5IsVqigINWp1J20/view?usp=sharing

 

[Sponsor]

 

[HydroAirJoe]

I found instructions for the Hampton Faucet on AS site. Unless things changed from 20 years ago, for the life of me I cannot figure out why the handle base will not come off...

 

[Terry]

Sometimes you need a handle puller, or rock it a bit and pull harder. Not always easy.