Success !
The 'washer' turns out to be about 2mm thick, but once the last trace of the burr was removed, a couple of taps on the knurled knob end, and the whole thing slid out, much to my great relief.
I now realise that I'm going to need the other end open as well, so that I can re-position the top turn of the coil out through the tiny holes in the side of the barrel, and that will be fun !
EDIT 15 mins removing the burr, and the second washer/bush is now out, and I can go to bed, leaving the fiddle of the rebuild for tomorrow.
Night all,
John