Without going into detail about how my sorry building skills left me in this position, I had to remove a pedal from the Big Wheel. I took a small, sharp wire cutter and with a few attempts was able to snip the washer, not completely through the washer, but enough to loosen it so that I could remove the pedal. Only minimal damage was done to the washer housing in the pedal. Fortunately, the parts package included with the Big Wheel contained an extra washer (as well as extra end cap and an extra screw) and I was able to get the Big Wheel together correctly this time and to my grandson in time for his birthday.