It's ok to pry on it if you're careful. Tap it too, use a screwdriver handle and just go around it and tap judiciously. When you're prying, be sure that if something is going to break it's the separator and not the machine housing.

Clean the shaft well before putting the new separator on, it's a pretty close fit and you don't want crud in it, and be sure the threads are clean and dry before putting the acorn nut on.

lp