Need help w/ bearing seal

When I was rebuilding, this is the only bearing I didn't replace. Couldn't get the cage out of the tranny housing and didn't want to bust any thing. The one on the right side went fine, but the one on the left I couldn't get out. It wouldn't come straight out, cold, or with heat on the tranny case. I tried walking it out by working lightly with a wedge behind each of the three ears on the bearing cage. Nothing doing. So I closed it up, and drove in two of the new seals. The tractor sat for a while and that spot is my only leak.

I pulled the final drive and shaft housing once more before starting to paint the tractor. Same deal, couldn't get the cage out. This time I did wobble a little space betwen the shims and sprayed them clean before putting it back together with two new seals. Still leaking.

I could live with the leak, but that bearing really does need changing out.

Anybody have any useful experience in getting that bearing cage out of there? If I can get the bearing replaced, I'll have a better look at that shaft. It's possible it's worn enough that I could get a different seal to work, or (if they make them in the right size) speedy sleeve it so that it'll seal up.

I'm all ears.

This is the bearing on the side of the transmission case where the shaft comes out to carry the power to the final drive. It is similar to the way the bull pinion comes out to the brakes on my SuperC (which I might suppose is similar to the setup on the H).

If I had to compare it to another part, it looks like a bigger version of the bearing retainer on the tranny input shafts, after you get the yoke off, only larger. The bearing behind it is 2-1/2" or so in diameter (outside).

Basically, it's machined round and has maybe a little flange on the outside and three ears for bolting it up to the tranny. In the particular spot on the BN, it's under that flange and ears that you shim the shaft. I didn't measure it when I had it open, but as best I recall from the one on the other side that went easily, it's an inch and change deep at most. I can get a chisel under each of the ears to get it started out, but the fit is too tight to turn by hand so, as I said, I've tried walking it out by tapping wedges in turn going around it. It'll come just so far, maybe halfway and bind. I've tried keeping it squared up and tapping the ears to turn it, trying to find a better spot for it to continue coming out. No dice.

I'm about at my wit's end with it. It's one of those parts that'd be the very devil to replace, so I don't really dare to warm onto it with the hammers. In keeping with the hammer rule, I know I could get it out, but the point of the exercise os to have something to put back in. ;8^) But it's the only way into that bearing.

Thanks, and I'll keep ya posted.