Removing inside door handles and window cranks

Need to replace a cracked door glass on my '55 Ford. I have the tool for removing the inside door handle and window crank, but it's not getting them off, I know the tool goes 180 degrees from the way the handle/crank points. I removed many of them when I worked in a body shop in high school nearly 60 years ago. Am I missing something. The handle and crank are pitted pretty bad and I plan to replace with reproduction, so I don't mind breaking them to get them off. Any suggestions of somet trick that has worked for you?

If I remember correctly, the tool goes in the way the handle points. Been a while since I have done one though. Have you tried it both ways ? They can be a pain.

I have used a strip of rag wrapped around behind the handle. You pull back on one end sharply. It should catch the tip of the clip and pull it out

Yes, the tool goes in under the handle.

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