Overflow gasket woes

[asmad]

I have an upstairs tub that was leaking at the overflow gasket during showers due to splashing. The problem is that the overflow drain pipe is not correctly aligned. There's not enough wiggle room to get it into a workable position or to access it from below or behind, either, due to various complexities with how it is plumbed and the location of nearby structural members.
Hopefully the picture shows the issue - which is that the PVC prong on the bottom, and to some degree the one on the right, are inaccessible behind the wall of the tub. Like I said, the pipe doesn't move enough to provide the room needed to work the gasket into place. With a great deal of work I was able to get a new gasket clear of the top and sides, but the bottom is completely hopeless.
Would it be against anyone's advice if I try to cut off the lower prong? If I can work a blade down in that area to remove just that one, I think I can get the gasket in place and at least gravity wouldn't be working against me in these circumstances. Thoughts? Any other suggestions?

 

[MKS]

Not a plumber.
These gaskets are typically tapered so check that.
A little liquid dish soap may help.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Plumbs]

Those prongs are just to hold the gasket in place during assembly. As long as you leave the other 3 intact and don't over-tighten there should not be an issue.

 

[Terry]

I sometimes push the overflow back with a screwdriver to gain some room for a new foam washer on the overflow. You can lose a pin or two.