flywheel/front main seal

[satchmo]

I just rebuilt my engine. Put in a new Viton seal at the flywheel end of the crank. It went in nice and square. New o-ring on the flywheel too. Now, of course, it is leaking. How do I know? Drips of oil at the bell housing was the first clue. Plus, I took the engine back out because I am putting in an 091 transmission. There is a nice puddle of oil at the bottom of the seal. Oil galley plugs are fine. Transmission seal is okay too.

So does anyone have a sure-fire way to get the seal in and make sure it doesn't leak? Suggestions appreciated. I don't really want to take the engine out again any time soon, especially just to replace this seal.

Thanks, Tim

[Amskeptic]

I just rebuilt my engine. Put in a new Viton seal at the flywheel end of the crank. It went in nice and square. New o-ring on the flywheel too. Now, of course, it is leaking. How do I know? Drips of oil at the bell housing was the first clue. Plus, I took the engine back out because I am putting in an 091 transmission. There is a nice puddle of oil at the bottom of the seal. Oil galley plugs are fine. Transmission seal is okay too.

So does anyone have a sure-fire way to get the seal in and make sure it doesn't leak? Suggestions appreciated. I don't really want to take the engine out again any time soon, especially just to replace this seal.

Thanks, Tim

Tim, it is a matter of course to check for a groove in the flywheel where the seal rides. If you have a groove, install the new seal flush with the crankcase edge, then grease the seal surface on the flywheel and install flywheel with one bolt. Then remove flywheel. See if the grease was pushed right to the groove in the flywheel, or is it shy of the groove? If it is pushed to the groove, drive the seal home. If it is shy of the groove, leave the seal at the flush point. I now have three discrete grooves in my original flywheel and have run out of new installation positions. Please pack inside lip of seal with grease. Please sand flywheel with 220 or 320 grit at a 45* angle clockwise from crankshaft end edge to main flywheel surface. Wash grit off very nicely before installation. I install my seals dry. No leaks. I personally use Permatex Aviation on that rubber seal inside of the flywheel hub area.
Colin

[satchmo]

Thanks, Colin, although you are a little bit late as I put the seal in last night.

I did most of what you suggested. No palpable groove on the flywheel, but it is shiny in a ring where it rubbed the old seal, so I did the emery paper thing on it. I put a very thin layer of Curil T on the case bore, then tapped the seal into place just flush with the case. I put some oil in behind it and just watched for a while to make sure it did not leak between the seal and the case. I put some oil on the hub of the flywheel where it rubs on the seal and completed the installation of the flywheel.

We'll see how that works. I will probably tolerate a drop of oil at the bell housing after a long drive, but I won't like it. There is just something about having a shiny engine that makes me feel....well, clean.

Tim

[hambone]

Interesting...
the only way I could get the seal to not leak was lightly smearing the whole thing with grease prior to assembly. That and very gently driving it home (the seal).

[bottomend]

I just rebuilt my engine. Put in a new Viton seal at the flywheel end of the crank. It went in nice and square. New o-ring on the flywheel too. Now, of course, it is leaking. How do I know? Drips of oil at the bell housing was the first clue. Plus, I took the engine back out because I am putting in an 091 transmission. There is a nice puddle of oil at the bottom of the seal. Oil galley plugs are fine. Transmission seal is okay too.

So does anyone have a sure-fire way to get the seal in and make sure it doesn't leak? Suggestions appreciated. I don't really want to take the engine out again any time soon, especially just to replace this seal.

Thanks, Tim

Tim, it is a matter of course to check for a groove in the flywheel where the seal rides. If you have a groove, install the new seal flush with the crankcase edge, then grease the seal surface on the flywheel and install flywheel with one bolt. Then remove flywheel. See if the grease was pushed right to the groove in the flywheel, or is it shy of the groove? If it is pushed to the groove, drive the seal home. If it is shy of the groove, leave the seal at the flush point. I now have three discrete grooves in my original flywheel and have run out of new installation positions. Please pack inside lip of seal with grease. Please sand flywheel with 220 or 320 grit at a 45* angle clockwise from crankshaft end edge to main flywheel surface. Wash grit off very nicely before installation. I install my seals dry. No leaks. I personally use Permatex Aviation on that rubber seal inside of the flywheel hub area.
Colin

I'm trying to better understand this procedure. I understand what you're saying about determining where the seal and groove collide but I get lost after that...


>>Please pack inside lip of seal with grease.

Which lip? The angled part? Just the tiny edge that is supposed to contact the flywheel or the whole part that angles inward, toward the center?






>>Please sand flywheel with 220 or 320 grit at a 45* angle clockwise from crankshaft end edge to main flywheel surface.

Does this mean to sand the "slope" portion of the flywheel?




>> I install my seals dry.

But earlier you said to put grease on the seal.




>> I personally use Permatex Aviation on that rubber seal inside of the flywheel hub area.

Are you talking about the big "O" ring that goes inside of the "slope" on the flywheel?

I have a leak from my bellhousing and need to fix it.. .ONCE!

[Amskeptic]

>>Please pack inside lip of seal with grease.

Which lip? The angled part? Just the tiny edge that is supposed to contact the flywheel or the whole part that angles inward, toward the center?

The inside of the seal lip where the little spring resides. This helps draw heat away from the contact surface.

>>Please sand flywheel with 220 or 320 grit at a 45* angle clockwise from crankshaft end edge to main flywheel surface.

Does this mean to sand the "slope" portion of the flywheel?

Ayep.

>> I install my seals dry.

But earlier you said to put grease on the seal.

Au contraire, gwasshoppa, I say gwease inside wip, not outside pewimeta.
Colinfucious

>> I personally use Permatex Aviation on that rubber seal inside of the flywheel hub area.

Are you talking about the big "O" ring that goes inside of the "slope" on the flywheel?

The greyish graphite impregnated skinny little o-ring that is inside the bore that the crankshaft seats into, the one and only little o-ring to be found. Do not slather. . . As in life, so too the flywheel o-ring.
Colin

[bottomend]

Makes sense. Thanks.

[sped372]

How did this ever turn out? Leak solved?

[satchmo]

How did this ever turn out? Leak solved?

Yes. As Chief Inspector Clouseau would say, "The case is solv-ed."

Tim