Crankshaft seal repair on Stihl 020 AVP chainsaw

I have a repair and service manual for the Stihl 020 AVP chainsaw. It has instructions on separating the crank case---remove 6 screws, punch out 2 locating dowel pins, and separate. However it will not separate. Does anyone have expertise. I don't want to pry or pound on this unit. Help!!

is there anything in the way that's preventing it from separating. maybe take a flat head screw driver aim it at the gasket and give it light taps all around see if it comes loose.

Thanks. I have done all that. Without getting serious with a hammer, It seems like it is at least a light press fit on the bearings. The manual doesn't say anything about that. I will probably go to a local Stihl dealer and ask if their repair man will give me some advice.

did you run the wrong mixture and the engine seezed up if so that could be the problem. it might have welded itself to the crankshaft.

Negative. The Cylinder and piston are perfect. No sign of damage. I am going to take it to the dealer and ask them to separate the crankcase and replace the bearings and seals. The case has to be heated to remove and replace bearings. It will be worth paying them to do it right. Much cheaper than another saw.

Update: I took the crankcase to the dealer. They scratched their heads and took it into the back room for a while. Came back out and said that they were about as rough on it as they wanted to get---but couldn't get it apart. I went home determined to separate the cases. I found two small 4mm tapped holes approximately opposite the crankshaft. I made a makeshift puller and separated the cases. The shaft was, as I suspected, a light press fit. You would never get it off the bearing without a puller. I don't understand why the shop manual didn't note that. They just said to use a wooden hammer!! Sometimes a hammer comes in handy , but would not be appropriate here.

glade you got it off. let us know how the rebuild goes.