Need Help!!! Intermediate shaft removal

However, I found out why it was hard to remove.
Where the hex priming rod fits in oil pump, it gets stuck in there! I had to wiggle it loose and then it came right out.
I could put it in and out multiple times without turning pump and it would not stick.
Of course I couldn't wiggle intermediate shaft, that made it so hard to remove.
Has anybody heard of this before?