I was able to get it out. Thanks Ed, Mike, and 3B. I did try as suggested and unfortunately these techniques did not help. I was able to use an angled prybar to pry the ring in enuff to drop a few 16 penny nails in, one at a time, behind the ring to keep it out if its groove, then was able to tap it out towards the inner bearing. I am sure there is a tool made for this application, but I could not find anything close.
