Out of curiosity, you DID remove the sprocket bolt, right?

On my SDL, the O-Ring seal was cooked and ROCK HARD. So hard, that it made it difficult to pull the IP. I wound up rocking it up and down slightly as I pulled it out. Took a few minutes of wiggling and pulling, but it finally came out, O-ring broke into 3 pieces in the process.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 157K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 125K (SLoL)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Gone and wanting to forget:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™) [Definitely NOT a Benz]