PTO seal on CM274

[BeezFun]

To replace the PTO seal, manual says I have to take the transmission and front axle out of the machine as an assembly, then take front axle off. Wow, that seems nuts. I've stared at the service manual, and the parts diagrams online, and it sure looks like I can just unbolt the front axle from the transmission if I pull both axles out first, then slide it away from transmission. Anyone have any experience with this? I think it should be a crime punishable by public flogging to not put the seal in a removeable housing.

 

[TractorTech]

I haven't had the pleasure of replacing one of those seals, but it looks like they updated the bealing/seal holder later on in the series so you didn't have to disassemble most of the powertrain. Thst said, your method sounds plausible from how I remember the machine.
I was wondering if you couldn't remove the seal by using a slidehammer seal extractor?

 

[BeezFun]

I was wondering if you couldn't remove the seal by using a slidehammer seal extractor?

That was going to be my next question. I see lots of youtube videos of guys pulling seals by screwing sheet metal screws into the seal, then pulling it out with either a slide hammer attached to a pair of vise grips that grab hold of the screw, or prying on the screw head with needle nose pliers. Since the pto shaft will still be in place, there's no way to get a regular pair of jaws on the inside of the seal (unless I pull the axle).