I (unfortunately) have a SRAM Apex GXP crankset that I need to replace after less than a year of use because it's garbage. But I can't get the crankset out of the bottom bracket. I've taken the bolt out, and even removed the non-drive side BB cap, and usually a GXP crank would basically just slide out, but mine does not. After hitting with a hammer several times I got it to move out about 3cm (see second picture), so it's not rust or binding to the BB or anything like that... but then it's stuck there.
The plastic tube that goes between the BB cups is still in there (see pic1), and I can't pull it out either. So my hypothesis is that (somehow) the plastic tube is preventing the crankset axle from sliding all the way out...but how?
Whether that's the case or not, any ideas on how I can liberate my bike from SRAM crankset hell?