I recently overhauled the clutch master cylinder, but now I can't get the supply hose back in place. The hose is too short to extend out to a comfortable length to insert into the cylinder. This means that the cylinder and brake pedal assy needs to be in place when the hose is fitted. I was told that it is easier to fit the hose by first inserting the plastic coupling into the cylinder and then inserting the pipe over the coupling.

This made sense, but I can't remove the plastic coupling from the supply hose without damaging it. I have even cut some of the firewall rubber away to try and improve my hold on the pipe, but that still wasn't enough. Can somebody having done this please tell me how they got the supply hose back in the cylinder?