^If I recall, I never pulled the axle to get it off the tranny. Instead, I used a really fat flat head screw driver, placed it between the green cup and the tranny, then gently got the axle out using the screwdriver as a lever. This way, the axle 'simply' pops out off the tranny.
^I remember that I had to do the same thing you described. That kinna sucked.