Cannot remove instrument cluster

[si001]

I have a 1993 S500 coupe. The mechanical odometer has stopped working. I need to remove the instrument cluster. I have watched all the YouTube videos. I have the special Mercedes tool for cluster removal. It will not budge. I have even removed the side vent and I can put my whole hand down the back of the cluster to push it forward. It will not budge. And I have put a LOT of pressure on it, to the point of where I am worried about breaking something.

It nudges a little in and out. Only about 2mm. It feels like it is stopping on something hard when it comes forward. I have run butter knives all around the edge in case there is glue or just the cluster has bonded against the plastic over the years. Gone in about 100mm. There are a handful of places where the knife will not go in and I don't want to force it in case it is on a wire or something that could break.

I am out of ideas. Three of us have worked on it, including my mechanic friend who has a couple of old Benz's and pulled the sets out before (It is his tool).