[Johnson] How Do you Get the Johnson Ranger Vernier Apart?

[Whitebear1122]

I'm trying to get into the Johnson Ranger brass vernier in order to re-lube it. It appears to be dry and the tuning is no longer smooth, more "knobby" feeling as I rotate the shaft.  Alas I cannot separate the threaded shaft from the body.  A list member has had success putting the threaded portion surrounded by rubber hose into a table vise and using a wrench on the 7/8" body.  I am going to have to ask him more questions about his technique.  I'm worried about crushing the threads.

I have been unable to separate the two and actually did a little damage to the threads during yesterdays attempt so I'm even more scared to work on it.  Today I cut a piece of 0.125 thick clear tubing and slipped it over the threaded portion.  Placed the body in the table vise for stability rather than using a wrench.  Then I came in over the rubber tubing with the pliers, squeezing while turning.  So far I am unable to get the threaded portion to unscrews from the body.  Hose turns.  I'm worried about over squeezing and damaging threads.  

The only other way I know to remove threaded rod without damaging threads is to put two nuts on the shaft, tighten them together, then use a wrench on the lower nut.  The single nut appears to be a 3/4"-20,  .150 thickness.  The threaded portion is only 0.268 tall so two of those nuts wouldn't completely fit, one of the nuts would be only 1/2 or less threaded.

Am I overlooking something or is there an "easy button" to press for getting the two pieces separated?

73, Scott WA9WFA