VP
I'll need to get back to you on that one. I am not too familiar with that particular table. But I am guessing that the handles are a "press fit". In that case, brute force is the best option, as long as the force is applied properly.
The pressure should be put on the end of the handle closest to the rod and try to "push" the handle off, as opposed to trying to pull the handle off. Kind of like a chinese finger puzzle, the more you pull, the tighter it gets kind of thing.
Same principal, as long as there are no men on the rods, put the rod through the bearing hole in the table and let the table side hold the handle and try to pull the rod out.
Hope that helps. I will try to get a look at a harvard specifically and see if I can come up with anything else.
Pat R