That gray stuff is most likely a rubbery silicone of sorts, just take a sharp razor blade and slice between the black piece and the white piece.
And yeah.... hopefully it's not a bonded yoke, then you're screwed.
Was this monitor NEW ?
Or was there any sort of insurance on the shipping ?
Yes - It was never used. It was still taped up in it's original box from WG, with the plastic still over the monitor.
Yes - It was insured. But if they give me the money, and take the monitor, I'm S.O.L. - It took me 3 months to find that one, and my old K4600 this was supposed to replace is dead as a doornail.
You may be right. The goo looks like it's holding the neckboard to the yoke, or to keep the covergence in place. It's not on the tube, itself. And there is a metal plate surrounding the neckboard, instead of the usual strip of cardboard. So that may be there to support the weight.
I found this tube... I assume this will work since it's the same model, but different brand
http://www.hbfelectronics.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=287987