If you have the oil leaking into the rear axle (which is often said to cause this failure) then you'd have to remove the gearbox casting altogether, if not I'm not sure you can manage without doing that. That seal is probably worth doing anyway if you go this far as then it should survive for longer, the PTO seal is also worth doing. However you do it I would remove the gearbox first as then the casting will be a good bit lighter and easier to handle.
Good point about the wedges Rob.
Sandy
