I used a trick that my indy told me about.
You c an grind off about a half inch of the upper tube bell housing that slips over the lower tube without getting close to the o-ring seal. This allows you to rotate the two and with upwards pressure you can remove the upper return tube with little to no effort.
Installing is much easier also.

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'99 S420 - Mommies
'72 280SE 4.5 - looking to breathe life into it
'84 300SD Grey - Sold
'85 300SD Silver - Sold
'78 Ski Nautique