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Yup. It's pretty much identical to replacing a shifter seal- old one pulls straight off, new one slides straight on, just have to be careful sliding it down the shaft.

If you're careful, you can run a couple of screws into the old seal to help you pull it out. Just be sure you don't run them too deep, or else you risk scratching up the engine cases.

I have to do this same repair on mine at some point. I just don't feel like pulling the radiator yet....

Thanks guys , instructions off people who have done the job makes me more confident than looking at the manual.

Started well, the pipe took some work to move down but got it with a few small teeth marks off the grips. I've spent a couple of hours tapping ,pulling and levering at the cover but cant get it to break free. I'm listening to advice and being careful so I've walked away before I do anything brutal that I regret. Have I missed anything or any further tips to get the cover off.

Edit..1 more hr of tapping, soaking and levering and its off in 1 piece, used everything I could lay my hands on..don't tell the Mrs, I've cleaned them and put them back in the kitchen Guess I'm finally learning patience

Tiny bit of sludge in the botton but doesn't look bad, should I just replace the seal on the shaft?PS where is the drainhole that can get blocked.

That is the "wet" side or the seal. Pull that seal holder out of the housing and then you can see what the problem may be. If there are signs of coolant behind it, then the mechanical seal was leaking, if its coverd in oil then the oil seal is leaking.

The seep hole is just below the casting in your pictures.

Good to know job can be done from the outside.

Be forewarned- you'll probably need an impact or something to bust those Philips (JIS?) screws loose. Mine were pretty welded in, and from what I hear they generally all are.

On the plus side, once they are out you can use the correct size screws in the other sockets (I think- correct me if I'm wrong) to push the water pump seal out. The oil seal should be behind that.