Itinerant Air-Cooled

I have my engine and transmission out of my '78 bus and split. Actually, the engine will be returning home from Adrian at Headflow Masters freshly rebuilt in two weeks!

In the meantime I'm taking care of what looks to be a leaking main shaft seal. In searching here and the Samba, there seems to be multiple schools of thought on removing and replacing said seal. In one post Colin mentioned a thread where he described removing the bell housing and tapping it out from the back side...but I can't find that thread? I guess I'm looking for advise on what folks have found to be good ways to take care of this procedure.

Can I also get a recommendation for where to order a good quality seal. I see multiple offerings on the Bus Depot site, but I'm not sure which to go with.

Here's what I'm working with:

THall wrote:
looks to be a leaking main shaft seal.

where to order a good quality seal.

Does it have a gear oil smell? Was the crankcase/flywheel/clutch assembly free of engine oil?

With the collar off, it looks like you can snag and pry out the seal with a little hooked seal remover/little bent crowbar/screwdriver. The only warning is not to gouge the bore.

Quality seals? I think I would trust Long Enterprises or maybe Rancho Transmission to give me a suitable brand name, then you can ask your favorite vendors . . . or order directly from them if they would.
Colin

I struggled for a couple days trying to get that seal out with picks, screwdrivers, etc. My brother-in-law couldn't take it and brought down something like this for me:



Which popped it out easy as pie.




neal

ruckman101 wrote: Which popped it out easy as pie.

I don't WANT that PIE . . .

That was after two days of fruitless endeavors with less than appropriate tools. It came out first little pry with the gasket puller.

neal

Nice. ( santa please note)

Thanks guys, I'm gonna pick up a gasket puller to get that sucker out.

Another question if I may - The clutch lever/spring assembly are really gunked up and I'd like to clean and re-lube. The Bentley shows shows a number of parts associated with the assembly and I'm wondering if there is anything I should be aware of in taking this apart? Or, should I even be taking it apart at all?

THall wrote:Thanks guys, I'm gonna pick up a gasket puller to get that sucker out.

Another question if I may - The clutch lever/spring assembly are really gunked up and I'd like to clean and re-lube. The Bentley shows shows a number of parts associated with the assembly and I'm wondering if there is anything I should be aware of in taking this apart? Or, should I even be taking it apart at all?

If you are talking about the release bearing, operating forks and lever on the bell housing, yes, take it apart, check for excessive clearance in the bronze bushings. They are replaceable parts. Clean carefully and look for any signs of potential cracking between the arms and the cross shaft.
Colin

Oh yeah, it comes apart.






neal

The assembly came apart nicely and got it cleaned up. Everything looks to be in good shape. Also managed to get the main shaft seal out without too much trouble.

THall wrote:The assembly came apart nicely and got it cleaned up. Everything looks to be in good shape. Also managed to get the main shaft seal out without too much trouble.

That is because you are an "artisan" unlike some of the savages around here . . .
Colin

Amskeptic wrote:

THall wrote:The assembly came apart nicely and got it cleaned up. Everything looks to be in good shape. Also managed to get the main shaft seal out without too much trouble.

That is because you are an "artisan" unlike some of the savages around here . . .
Colin

ahhh yes, that's me Mr. Artisan....I do play guitar in a Grateful Dead cover band...

So looking ahead to the install when my new seal arrives...Bentley says to lightly coat the outer surface of the new seal with a sealing compound and lube the rear drive shaft and seal lip with transmission oil.

1. What would be an example of said sealing compound?

2. As for the outer surface...pardon what may be an obvious question, but that would have to be the outside perimeter that contacts the the recess in the housing, correct?

3. And seal lip would be the inner ring that contacts the shaft?

Thank you!

THall wrote:sealing compound?
outer surface?
seal lip?

Permatex Aviation is an excellent sealant.
Yes, outer surface. Sealant
Yes seal lip. Grease

Colin

Thank you Colin....truly appreciate all that you do for this community!