First ported cabinet questions.

[eStatic]

This is one of two front ambience cabinets I built. These were designed using a program I can't find nor its name remember. The 6" square at the bottom covers the port. The design parameters were selected to allow both ported and sealed modes. In the sealed mode, as is the one shown, they were paired with subs and xovered at 125 Hz One of those subs is shown in the left corner. I now need to remove the bottom covers, which are over PVC couplers. The lower mid must be removed, the port-tube passed throught the driver mounting hole and fitted into its port-tube coupler. Before final assembly I verified I could in fact insert and fit a port tube substantially longer than as calculated and still have minimum clearance in the back. Numerous issues now arise.

First is just seating and unseating the PVC pipe into its coupler. Done a lot of that in various contexts and I know that unless slathered with its solvent/cement it's difficult to seat all the way and can be even more difficult about releasing. This context is new to me. Perhaps there are tricks that can be used when it caries no substantial pressure. Huh, huh? I did search.

thanks

eStatic