How to remove a tethered gas cap

[NiteOwlX]

Hi everyone,
I have a leaking gas cap on my Craftsman mower M210. I ordered a new cap from Briggs and Stratton (part 596250). It has a tether on it that looks like a T. What is the best way to remove the old cap (there's gas in the tank so I'd like to touch it as little as possible). I tried searching for some advice on this type of cap, but no luck. Thanks in advance!

 

[ILENGINE]

Grab one end of the T with needle nose pliers, rotate that end up through the fuel tank hole and pull it out.

 

[NiteOwlX]

Great idea! Thank you.

 

[NiteOwlX]

Well, I replaced the cap with a new Briggs and Stratton cap and it still leaks. I see no cracks or nicks on the tank's neck. However, the last time I opened the lid to put gas in it was very difficult to unscrew. Could this be some sort of pressure buildup? The mower seems to run fine. Thank you.