I finally got the entire leg out up through the compartment instead of digging a hole and going out the bottom. Much easier to work on the gears on the workbench than trying to use a mirror. Got the shaft out and the gears. Gear teeth look ok. Under the horizontal bevel gear, it looks like the drive pin is a bit mushroomed and not staying tight in the the bottom of the gear. This would explain why the leg needs pressure to keep the drive pin tight tot the gear for them to work. I am going to order a replacement gear kit for $40 and see if that works.