I looked around my garage for a socket or something that was about the same size as the ID of the spark arrester.
Found an OLD 3/8 drive phillips head socket that must be WW2 era that I had with a bunch of my Dad's old stuff.
The socket is tapered and the same diameter as the ID. Tapped it into the spark arrester. Grabbed the spark arrester with some Channel Locks and with a lot of twisting got the thing out.
The spark arrester looked brand new. I don't think there was one hole in the tiny mesh screen that was blocked.
Put it back together. Enough for today.
Thanks for the help and directions and ideas so far.
Liketoroam - Can you give a short step by step of setting the Gen on blocks under the van and then getting the bottom off ?
Thank You