If the cases are hot enough then the bearings should drop out with ease. A point to remember with the timing case, if you have the spindles in, leave the steady plate in place with the shims. Fit all the nuts. If you don't then you could also shift the spindles.
I use a roofers propane torch to heat my cases, if the wife is around, but I also use a surface temperature guage to check the temperature of the cases. John