I seem to recall that one has to remove the valve body to fix a leaking shift shaft/kickdown shaft seal, but can't seem to find the thread I saw the info in.
Late model 904, (70-74), with a leaking shaft seal. I have to remove the valve body, or is there a less intrusive way?

Thanks.....Roger

You can do it from the outside without removing the valve body. Once you remove the kick down and selector level, you have two options - use a screw driver, pick, etc and carefully pry the seal out - have to be super careful not to nick the valve body. It's possible, but a royal PITA with trans in car.

The proper tool is kd 2392 shipped for $30 here. I wish I knew about this tool before I dropped my valve body. Thing is though I'm kinda glad I did because there was a groove worn in it by the seal, may have been a chance it leaks even with a new seal. The shaft the seal rides on is a small assembly that pivots in the valve body. If the valve body itself or the bottom half of the shaft is worn, this play can also cause the whole assembly to twist and not ride perpendicular in the seal. I suspect this is what caused most of my leak, not just the minor groove.

Also - don't discount the possibility of kickdown seal leaking either. Perhaps not as likely but still possible, they are on top of each other. You can replace this too on car but it has its own issues - you have to remove the clip and washer holding the shaft in place and pry that seal out (just a rubber washer, no metal band around it) - problem is without the clip holding the lever up it can fall in the pan while your prying that seal out.