[Rev]

You should only have to bring in the 3rd member (center chunk) to get the gears installed. That is always done on a bench. If you have the axles out and all the nuts off, it should come out without all that hassle. It may be sealed on there with RTV. That's how I do it and with no gasket. Try using that chisel again as wedge to get it to move. There's really no reason that it should not come off with the axles out and all the nuts off.

Rev