Shift Shaft help

Yep, tried a couple more hours yesterday. I’m definitely getting a good bite and full thread on the seal, but as I screw the bolt to lift the seal assembly, it just strips chords or rubber gasket with it from the old seal. I even tried just the tool and with a vice grip lifting straight up along the shaft to pop it but no luck.

I just purchased a hook and pick set at Home Depot. It’ll have to wait till Monday though...back to work today.


Where do people leverage the seal with a screw driver? At the outer flange metal of the seal where meets the transmission metal? My understanding is to avoid picking at the inner rubber area where the seal meets the valve body shaft. Is this correct?