Need Help!!! Intermediate shaft removal

See if you can get 2 loops/hooks on the gear, and lift on opposite sides, rocking it back and forth. Sometimes, the gear just gets a bit cocked in the bushing and needs to be rocked a bit to get it loose.

Also, try turning the engine backwards a bit (CCW at the crank) to get the pressure off of the gear teeth. This direction of rotation will tend to push the shaft gear up.