Success!
guys, thank you very much for your comments.
after posting my comments, and having a cold drink (it's 87 degrees today), i went back to the shop, and try something else.
i took parts from two different pullers, and created a new one.
i had to modify it a bit, by grinding the arms.
once i got it moving, i had the space to go in with the 3 hands puller, just like Deadeye suggested.
