Jim; Do you remember lining up the marks on the two gears when you installed the new timing gear. Of course, if you can't answer that with certainty, it's likely that your crank/cam timing are who-knows-what!

...if you're fairly certain you did, I'd hold off ripping everything apart and just do a static timing check (and doublechecking that the valves for cyl 1 are both closed the the spark happens).

Removing the timing gear without damaging it just requires evenhanded (that is: nonlopsided) force to seperate it from the cam...it should'nt be too difficult. That technique you described sounds like it will work fine.

Good Hunting