Does mast detach from pulpit/step on H-33 1981?

[Bob Pullen HC-33 1981]

I've pulled the mast from the deck on Seanorita, our 1981 H-33. The entire mast and pulpit came off as one piece. We aim to remove/replace the old wiring in the conduit inside the mast. Does anyone have any experience in detaching the bottom cast aluminum step or pulpit from the mast? How about the flat plate with all the fittings at the top of the mast? We were hoping to have clean access to the conduit? Is that possible?
We have the steel wire (fish?), messenger lines, etc...but I was also hoping to take a look inside, and figure out what is going on with our 3rd halyard which we dropped down the mast last year, and seems to be braided or rubbing on something...does not flow freely like the other 2 which were in place when we came onboard.
I have searched the archives, but I don't find a clear explanation and it seems most of the attached pictures to old posts are no longer attached.
Many thanks as usual for all your excellent advice and assistance.
Bob Pullen
S/V Seanorita
Yucatan

 

[Steve W]

Bob, the way you describe the situation, the mast step came off with the mast? Extremely strange. I had an '81 H33 which had been winter stored numerous times with the mast down. If you pull the mast, you should have the mast "step" still bolted to the deck. There are bolts around that step which thread into an aluminum plate embedded in the deck. It's very easy to un-bolt it but you shouldn't need to since the wiring runs through an opening in that step and down the in-cabin mast support and exits at the bottom of that support just below the removable floorboard. You can use existing wiring as a snake to run either new or additional cables. In terms of the mast, the truck just bolts to a flange at the top of the mast. Easy to remove and once removed gives you access to the wire chase running inside (it's riveted to the inside front of the mast and terminates about 12" or so from the bottom. If that conduit is "full" you could run wires or cables down the mast itself but make sure they don't conflict with the internal halyards. If you do that, do yourself and your neighbors and tie wire-ties every 4-5 feet leaving the 'tails' in place. That will keep the cables off the inside of the mast eliminating cable 'slap' when the boat rocks...

 

[Bob Pullen HC-33 1981]

Mast step won't come off the mast - Hunter 33 1981

I've attached a picture of what the bottom of the mast looks like. We have since been able to remove the top of the mast (truck?), and see the conduit and halyards...lots of space for the new wires.
However we have not touched the base/pulpit/step as I prefer not to try anything like heating it yet.
Any ideas on how to get it off?
Does the step have a collar that rides inside the base of the mast?
If so, how high is it?
Many thanks again for the assistance.
Bob