Rear Crank Oil Seal - advice please?

[Baldeagle]

Hi,

Would appreciate a little advice please - I recently rebuilt my TV8, all new seals/gaskets etc etc. Prior to the rebuild it dripped engine oil slightly from the rear crank seal so that of course was replaced (with a Rimmers one) and the housing etc put back using a gasket sealant. Sadly it was still dripping after all the work so now (only 500miles later) the engine is back out again (for another unrelated issue) so I'm looking at it again.

It's definitely the seal that's allowing oil past, albeit only a drip. There's nothing wrong with the seal itself as far as I can see, it's identical to the brand new one I just bought to replace it, but I see a groove on the end of the crank and I dont think that's by design, more likely wear over time - see the picture. This might well account for the leak as the seal isn't able to do it's job properly - I guess I could install the new seal in the housing but try and leave it slightly proud in the housing so the seal would be in contact with a slightly different part of the crank avoiding the groove? Is there another fix anyone has come with please such as a better (slightly tighter) seal?

Rear Crank Seal.jpg

Any help appreciated please!

Bernard

[european voyager]

I leave them proud as you say , so that it runs on a different part of the crank and lube it with oil or grease to prevent burning on start up.

[DJT]

Take the seal to a local seal factors and get a twin lipped version. Slightly more expensive, but with two lips, the seal acts on previously unused parts of the shaft.

Dave

[V Mad]

You could fit a cover over the crank end. They make a special thin cap that fits over the end and provides a perfect surface to the seal. I used one that came with a recon crankshaft.

[Baldeagle]

Thanks, some great suggestions here!

Chris re the "cap" - any idea where I could get one please?
Dave: regarding the twin lipped seal, I've tried searching google for "seal factors" and mainly get stuff related to a type of sea mammal :-) Anyone got any details of any suppliers please?

Cheers
Bernard

[Baldeagle]

Dave, found a website, does this look like the right thing?

The size seems about right based on the numbers on the Rimmer seal...( 3.000 - 3.750 - 0.375). It's ceratinly a bit pricey but if it does the job...

http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/p70073/3x3.75x0.37+inch+Viton+Rubber+Imperial+Double+Lip+Rotary+Shaft+Oil+Seal+with+Garter+Spring/product_info.html

Cheers

Bernard

[DJT]

You could fit a cover over the crank end. They make a special thin cap that fits over the end and provides a perfect surface to the seal. I used one that came with a recon crankshaft.

Chris is referring to Speedi Sleeves. Also available from Simply Bearings

Dave

[Baldeagle]

Thanks Dave, much clearer now :-)

[deanoed]

hello bernard ive got the same problem as you, recon crank fitted with a speedy sleeve and have now changed the crankseal 3 times and its still leaking. like the double ring seal you found though i think im going to have to fit one along with another new speedy sleeve...dean

[Baldeagle]

Hi Dean,

Annoying that the sleeve didn't solve the issue - they aint cheap - but it's all the hassle involved that's the real cost. Was the sleeve easy to fit, I might get both the double lip seal and a sleeve now you've said that.

Bernard

[Guest]

I have no experince with double lipped seals on Stags (don't want any either!), but I fitted such a seal to the power take off shaft of my old tractor. The groove on the shaft was now between the two lips and 7 years later, still not a drop of oil comes out.

[Baldeagle]

Just ordered a sleeve and a double lipped seal - if that doesn't sort it nothing will.

Bernard

[jakesmig]

Good advice from Chris and Dave.
The sleeves have to be a real tight fit so that no oil goes between the shaft and the sleeve, they come in ranges, both in diameter and depth, to suit and are supplied with drifts to assist installation. You need to be fairly accurate when ordering so use a vernier caliper or equivalent to get the size of the shaft.
The only time I've had a problem with one is when I put it on squint and it went slightly oval, lack of attention on my part
Rgds,
John

[deanoed]

Bernard do you have the sleeve details I ordered a double lipped seal last night but want to order a sleeve too..thanks dean

[elvimto]

Double lip seals work very well I have them on my diff and transmission output shaft, if you can check the runout on the shaft it does'nt matter how good the seal is is the runout is bad the seal will not work.

just my 2 cents

cheers Stuart