Transfer case question

I have searched the forum and read most, if not all, the threads on this subject. Perhaps I am overlooking something, but I have not figured out how to remove the actuator on the transfer case.

Mine is acting up and I decided to bite the bullet and replace the actuator. If the old one is repairable I will keep it as a spare or offer it to someone at a reasonable price. Before removing the old one I decided to dismantle the new one, since the new one contains the rod which goes into the transfer case. The threads I have read imply that is an easy operation. However, the rod will not come out of the actuator unless the gear which drives it is removed, apparently. Removing that gear appears to require removal of a cover on the side of the actuator which is adjacent to the transfer case. Doing that on the truck would appear to be quite difficult, if not impossible.

Am I missing something? Any help would be appreciated.

 

Think I have figured it out. After I got the new actuator in hand and reread some of the other posts on the subject I understood them. At least one other individual had to remove that triangular plate and remove the gear to be able to remove the actuator. It is not as easy as some of the other posters say. Maybe some models differ from others. If some models indeed allow removal of the actuator without removing that gear, I hope the new actuator is compatible with the rod in mine. Anyway, I am relearning that there is never an easy, simple task.