[HBR] Capacitor question

[Chris Howard w0ep]

I see a wide variety of 3-section air variables on ebay these days.
I see a couple that have attractive gear drive systems on them.
(see 370590238594 for example)

I was wondering how hard it is to take plates out.  The capacitors
I see appear to have slots in the axle into which the plates fit
and have a small bakelite piece which drives all of the rotors at the 
same time.

How hard is it to remove plates?