Oil pump / distributor gear will not come out from the top

A light spritz of brake cleaner may help if its varnished in there. The shaft is probably just stuck in the oil pump drive. I use a screwdriver and a magnet to lift it out while i turn it. Like others have said you can really point it wherever, but i like to set it pointing to #1 so that i always have a ball park of where things "should" be down the road, plus i already made my plug wires, lol. Consistency i guess...