Tips For Removing Rotted Spider Gasket Please

[Lucky13F]

Now that I [think] my new Jandy Valve is ready to go...

I am trying with a lot of elbow grease to remove the bad Spider Gasket inside my Vari-Flow Valve.

It seems like it will never come out -- and I do not want to simply try to muscle it out and risk cracking something in there.

I have tried a knife, screwdriver, and a couple other things -- but this is clearly rotted and glued in pretty tight.

Any solvents or something else or another idea all together?

As always - thanks in advance.

 

[Lucky13F]

After reading some old threads here -- and some googling elsewhere -- I am guessing this is just going to be a labor of love [hate]

But then I had an idea...
Am I crazy?

What if I hit it with my pressure washer?

 

[Lucky13F]

Nope -- Power Washer did not work.

 

[Lucky13F]

This one can be closed -- after a few hours -- I got it off.

FWIW - I soaked it all in Goo-Gone