I've always used ball link pliers because you can really mess something up if you're not careful. But yes, it very hard to pull off. You don't have to pull the radio box everytime you grease the flex shaft! Just get those wrenches and loosen the coupler.

After your first day at the lake and you have your rudder trim set with the radio, put a tiny notch on the ball link, next to where the rod screw is, so if you have to unscrew and pull the rod through, you'll now where to screw it back into.

Also, the copper ring that is visible from the top of the rudder, that provides a tight fit for the hinge.........make sure it isn't loose. If you wiggle the rudder from side to side (not turning left and right) and it's loose, it will work its way up. If so, pull it out and put a very small dab of locktite on the outside of the copper ring and insert back into the rudder. Mine would work its way up after one run and luckily I caught it. Use a small drop of oil for the inside (where the rudder hinge is inside the copper tube).