bicarb isn't basic enough to convert the HCl salt to a base, you need carbonate (made by heating bicarbonate before adding - not in the reaction mixture). The reaction will form an amine carbonate which has to be heated to convert to the amine and CO2 and H2O. The amount of water formed by the reaction should not have a great effect and has even been noted to speed up the reaction. As noted previously this won't work with new formulations that have heat or solvent sensitive gakk in them.