HELP, can't get the tailshaft housing off...ASAP

Well, I'm trying to change my output shaft, and I can't get the tailshaft housing off. This is a 2001. I managed to walk the metal "cap" off the output shaft(resides on the shaft and covers the seal at the end of the tailshaft housing). Now I can't get the housing off the shaft. I know there is probably a snap-ring holding it on, but there's a seal in the housing, and that is the only thing I can see on the shaft. If I pull on the housing it comes out about 3/4 of an inch and then stops(bringing the shaft with it that distance). I'm afraid to force anything 'cause I don't wanna break it. Please help. Thanks

Ary

Well, I figured out that the seal comes out, now I just can't get the snap ring off.... I'm off to the store to buy the RIGHT kind of snap-ring pliers