Gearbox leak

[Smcknighty]

My 1.6d's gearbox is leaking oil between the bell housing and the gear box diff etc. there's a gasket there I want to replace

Bentley says I need to relieve tension on the left adjusting ring using a vw 385/15 before torquing the gasket back up.

I don't have this tool and it costs 165 euros from what I see. What do people do? Loosen ring with a friendly hammer? Not loosen ring and take a chance you can still get a good seal?

[HarryMann]

Aidan, our gearbox guru will hopefully answer this soon.

If you are talking about the gasket behind the bellhousing mating face, I would have thought a quick nipping up of the bolts and those between the other casings, if it's just the normal weeping due to case corrosion.

[Aidan]

don't worry about undoing the adjusting ring