+1. He's right! They're pretty wide, and not very deformable, so it'd be difficult to try and 'spring' it out! I'm not saying impossible, but I've never heard of it being done. And then, you'd have to fit a new one on top of the new seal, assuming you could get the old seal out anyway. Split the cases, leaving the top end intact. Not really a big job, once the motor's out ... but far safer!