How to you get the ladder out of the ground?

[doggie]

We glued ours on. But we used marine glue, not super glue.

Glad you are making progress.

[mlh]

Closed my brothers pool today and had this same problem with the handrails and ladder. We got the handrails out ok but the ladder bit the big one. Got one side loose but the other side would not budge at all. While he was applying pressure with his foot he twisted the tubing badly and we ended up sawing it off and after a few more hours we got the piece out of the cup. Question: what would you think all the cement colored sandy grit was that we dug out of all six of the cups? This is evidently what got them all stuck. The tubing all looked fine inside and out. He has a swg but if something was corroding we sure couldn't tell by looking at the tubing. Think some sort of grease put on there upon reinstallation might help this? This pool is 3 years old so they had been out several times before.
Thanks
Mike

[matt4x4]

I think greasing before assembly is an important maintenance item, periodic oiling/lubing over the summer is also recommended.
The chlorine and or salt in your water will remove any lubricant/oil relatively quick, so staying on top of that should keep the thing relatively loose by formaing a barrier so corrosion cannot set in too quickly.
As for bent portions, any way of setting the end in or over a post (maybe like a fence post) to hold it somewhat steady while gently bending it back to the position where it originally was?