Thanks for answering so quickly. I was hoping to hear a story of triumph but alas it sounds like the bear won the battle. I will try the PB Blaster, and when my friend shows up we will take a 20 lb sledge hammer to the bloody axle (fingers crossed).

10 years later I am in the same predicament with a Big Bear 350. I have pulled off everything except the rear differential and when I pound on either end of the axle it doesn't budge. One thing I did not see you mention in your posts are the two big ring nuts that I have on my axle that seem to be seized. They are on the left side of the diff. I thought I could skip taking those ring nuts off and just slide the axle to the left but nope, it won't go. Did you eventually get the axle out? How? Did you have to disconnect the entire swing arm and pull the axle off with the diff still attached? Any advice would be great.