wifey's D6 9U rt brake shaft brass bushings

I'm running into heck trying to pull the right brake peddle shaft out to clean up/buff out or replace the 2 brass bushings that the shaft rides in. Bought 2 new bushings other day part #1F-1310 @ $25 ea.
My right foot brake peddle has been sticking & dragging. I have to keep pulling the peddle back with my foot each time, even after I added another spring & bunggie cord. Finally decided the shaft is binding in the brass bushings going thru the brake drum housing.
Left foot brake peddle works great, but it gets old always going in a lefthand circle trying to get back "over yonder!" My problem....I haven't figured first yet how to get the linkage lever off the shaft that's outside the brake housing but next to the Transmission housing & bolt & nut that Cat put right in my way! Lever comes loose & slides, but not enough room to come completely off the shaft that also has a key....a key that's gonna be hard to move.
The inside the brake housing lever that's on the shaft I assume is keyed also.?? Only way so far I see to fight this issue is to get the "freeze plug" thing out from the right outside housing, get the inside linkage lever loose, then maybe drive the shaft toward the transmission enough to get the shaft key loose or started, then try to drive/pry the shaft back toward the outside....then on out.
I'm open to any & all ideas.

Another question....the brake compartments have been relatively clean & dry before....or so I thought. Both Brake bands still have good brakes. Couple weeks ago I pressure washed everything big time! I pulled the inspection plates to start fixin this brake peddle problem. The right compartment was about 1/3 full of water....the weep plugs were plugged on both compartments. I got to make new inspection plate gaskets....that's how the water got in.

Anyway, I cleaned & blew all the crud, dirt, & some accumulated oil out of both compartments. Finally blew & flushed some diesel into both compartments, then flushed everything out with gas. I know I probably got oily crap on the brake bands now. Wonder if I gonna have brake band problems now?

'Ya know, I bought this thing last year for the wifey for our anniversary...maybe I can get her to fix this stuff.....??? However, she won't even drive that forklift I got her for her birthday a few year ago, or the welders, or her tools, or her new/old excavator.....

Bushing on tranny side stayed in housing. I felt it was OK, & would have been kinda hard to replace, so I cleaned it up & left in in place.
Bushing toward the outside came out on the shaft. It cleaned up really nice with emerycloth, so it got reused too. Shaft cleaned up great & slid back with anti-seize. Outside bushing drove in & is snug in housing, shaft works just right, no excess slack anywhere.

I wonder if Cat will take these $50 brass bushings back?? I'll swing by the Cat House in a day or so & see....maybe I'll trade for something else....or keep'em along with my other treasures.....

Thanks