I agree with Grumpy on this. As you have removed all the hardware from the top of the shaft, the only thing holding it in place is the bearings on the shaft.
Downward pressure on the shaft should see it move in the right direction to get it out.
Of course, this would be much easier to do if you remove the cutting deck from the mower.
I always remove the cutting deck on the Greenfields I work on.
For the sake of half an hour of work, it saves a lot of grief.
Then again, I don't have one of those good looking hoists that you seem to have available.
