Clutch master cylinder not coming apart from union.

Hello all
I have just purchased an '05 model that has a few problems. One of them being removing the clutch master cylinder. It was leaking. The guy doing the work is having a right time in trying to separate the first connection that the pipe from the cylinder connects to (to the slave cylinder?).

He has tried everything in separating the connection. He has made a tool like the LR special tool, has tried long nose pliers and brute force to no avail.

Today he spoke to our local LR dealer who told him that yes sometimes they do not separate and that a new slave cylinder is the answer. I'm aware that the gearbox would need to be removed to fit the slave. He is happy to do the work, but my wallet is moaning!

Has anyone got any further suggestions that he might try or is it a gearbox out and a new slave cylinder?

Many thanks

I take it you have a TD4?
Change my master cylinder last year bit of a fiddly job for me getting the union apart. I used long nosed pliers. Its like a speed fit try pushing it in before separating.

I put a huge amount of force into pressing the two sections of pipe towards each other, then pressing down on the lock-ring gently and it just popped apart.

Tell you what though - no way would I be taking the gearbox out without trying an alternative... worst case scenario just before you take the box out - cut the pipes either side of the union and bin it. Find a barbed metal hose joiner the right size like this sort of thing....

heat up the very end of the plastic pipe gently with a hot air gun and slide it on quickly before it cools. Dont heat too much of the pipe or it collapses as you try to push it on. For added security, you could use crimp-style hose clamps as well....

When I converted mine to Left Hand Drive, instead of buying a LHD master cylinder I just cut and shortened the pipe on my RHD one doing it like this, tweaked the bends a bit and it was fine.

Thank you for the replies. Yes I think before the gearbox came out I would cut the pipe. First off though I'm am going to get someone else to have a go at it.
Cheers