Leaky faucet; handles won't come off

[casualfc]

My bathroom faucet is probably at least 30 years old, compression type. My best guess is that it's a Price Pfister. It's the type with the long white porcelain handles. Right now there's a drip from the spout. This morning it was occasionally leaking underneath on the cold water side.
The main problem is that I'm able to remove the screws for the handles but then I can't get the handles off to get to the packing nut. What am I doing wrong? I've tried prying up and twisting off but neither seems to work. I'm trying not to force it as it probably just needs washers and I don't want to replace the whole thing.

[plumber1]

see if you can find a handle puller.

[sparking5]

Handle puller...is that like an electricians "Pipe Stretcher" or is there really a handle puller tool?

[plumber1]

A good hardware store or plumbing supply house would have them.

They last forever and aren't very expensive and you may need to use them again in the future.

bet you could Google for them.......

[Cass]

Yes, they are real. Any big box store or hardware store should have them.

Now if you ever need one I will lend you my pipe streacher as they are very, very hard to find.

[Cass]

1 trick I have used that has never failed is it to take your torch and slowly, with the flame on and off the handle, heat the handle. Heat it as close to the screw area as possible till it is quite/very hot and the handle will come off. You may still need to rock the handle some.

If you heat to fast it will discolor the chrome.