[w.michael]

I had one that was stuck so tightly I could not get it out. The bottom of the distributor shaft was stuck to the top of the drive gear. I could pull the distributor up against the spring, but then the spring would pull it back down. I had to take the side cover off the valve chamber and drive a steel cut nail (square cut nail with a taper) into the small gap between the tang on the top of the drive gear and the slot on the bottom of the distributor shaft. That popped the two pieces apart.

Before you button everything back up, spread the slot on the bottom of the distributor shaft with a big screwdriver to make sure it will come apart next time. Check this even if you are replacing with a new shaft.

w. michael