I was wondering about that... what about putting the sled module in a vise, and then cutting partially the side where the diode is wit a Dremel thin cutting disk, then inserting a screwdriver in the cut and prying it open?
Would the vibration of the cutting disk damage the diode? I notice that the metal used in many sleds modules is moderately soft, like aluminium, but it looks darker than aluminium. Is it pewter?
I recently tried to extract a small red diode from a DVD burner and only succeeded in utterly destroying it. Even after I broke it , I tried to pop it out, so used massive force and wasn't even able to extract it... hence my idea about using (very carefully) a Dremel tool to weaken the sled module around the diode.
I am fairly comfortable with the numerous comments about PHR803 sleds that the diode is easy to extract, so I am confident my first diode "harvest" will be a success... as soon as I get the sled I ordered.
Robert