Well I thought I could pull those pins out by threading a bolt with a stack of washers into the pin, but all I ended up doing was snapping my bolt in the pin (!). Once I get the pin out (haven't tried yet but I have everything I need) I am just going to do it the right way and use the pin puller.

Anyone in central texas have one to loan me?

I got mine out almost the way you tried but instead I didn't use any washers. I used the claw end of a nail puller to get mine out. I carefully pried on the bolt and it came out very smoothly. A claw hammer might also work.