Moontop here again:
I had to change my blades (bent to sh*t). Once I got the deck out from under, I propped it on edge, then grabbed 2 15/16" combo wrenches, put one on nut on the blade shaft and pressed (UGH-H-H) them in opposite directions. Fifteen seconds of strain and I had both blades and shafts out. If the nut at the blade end of the shaft doesn't loosen while taking out the shaft, set the blade on a firm surface, place a block of wood on one side of the blade (it's still sharp), set the wrench on the nut in a near horizontal position, step on the wood block (holds blade FIRMLY in position), then step on the end of the wrench. Voila!
Mark Roth, aka Moontop, June 2006