Water pump replacement -Stuck drive shaft

[NissanNS90A]

Got the engine running nice so I decided to start the process of replacing the water pump. Got all 7 bolts off and both pieces come apart but only to the point I can see some of the water pump. Feels like the drive shaft is stuck. Whats the easiest way to break it loose without doing any damage of any sort or am I missing something?

 

[pvanv]

Time, patience, and wedges. That's the usual technique. Emphasis on patience. Push the wedges in with a mallet and wait. Then repeat later. May take a couple of days, depending on how stuck the splines are.

 

[NissanNS90A]

So there's nothing on the driveshaft holding it in, I removed all seven bolts and that its correct?

 

[racerone]

Shift rod ???

 

[pvanv]

Yes. Of course you do need to disconnect the shift linkage, as noted in the Factory service manual.