oil leak on Aircooled engine following rebuild.

[Wingit100]

Hello guys. Hopefully the picture has downloaded but im looking for help regarding a post rebuild oil leak. The oil is dripping from the area between gearbox housing and engine (area circled) it's a very slow drip when cold but once driven it deposits almost a set blob of oil onto the floor. It's not a great deal a fried egg size blob maybe. There was definitely a new crankcase oil seal fitted when rebuilt and there is no issue with clutch at the moment although it's done minimal miles. I'm hoping there's another possibility as I think I will cry if I have to take the engine out again. Thanks in anticipation.

[bigherb]

Can't see a picture. If it is between the bottom of the bell housing.
Possibly the flywheel oil seal. Did you put a new O ring in the flywheel as well?
Or it could be the camshaft end plug.
Or it is that the gearbox input oil seal has decided to start leaking.
I think the engine will have to come out to investigate.

[Wingit100]

Oh no that really makes me sad. Just spent best part of £700 on having new carbs fitted and it's running like a treat. Finally use able now I'm going to have to take it all out again. The engine rebuild broke the bank too! I'm calling the van my little cash cow! ;-( thanks for your help thou big herb.

[Wingit100]

Further to that,when the engine was put back together it had a new clutch and fly wheel so that definitely has a new o ring. The one thing that I did notice my engine builder left old and in fact broken was the small needle bearing in the centre of the whole thing, engine side, sorry cant remember the correct name, could this make a difference? He told me that it was next to useless and so of little consequence?

[bigherb]

You where lucky to get a new flywheel they have been obsolete for a long while.
The needle bearing is the spigot bearing for the gearbox input shaft and is very important that's why VW fitted it.

[Wingit100]

Ah maybe I'm dreaming about the new fly wheel then, it was a lot of bits at the time which were new to me. Thanks again big herb I guess I was sold down the river a little bit then re the spigot bearing. Need to find someone local who knows there stuff I think. Cheers.

[horizontal kipper]

Who built your engine if you dont mind me asking?

[ermie571]

If the spigot bearing was broken....it wouldn't be changing gear would it??

EM
x

[bigherb]

If the spigot bearing was broken....it wouldn't be changing gear would it??

EM
x

Yes it still can work. It is when it seizes that you cant select gears.

[Wingit100]

Hi guys thanks for the msgs, I would rather not say who rebuilt the engine at the moment in fairness as I think I should give him the oppounity to fix the problem. I take it the general consensus is that this is a real problem that I should aproach him about? I have planned to try and drop the engine myself to find out where the leak is coming from but obviously if it is going to go back to the engine builder then it would be a lot easier on ramps. The main issue is that I just cannot afford anymore costs. Spent over a thousand pounds on parts and £750 labour having the engine done (I fitted it back in) and just spent nearly £700 on carbs. Your advice is apreciated.

[ermie571]

I would be speaking to your fitter....and explaining where its comong from...if just rebuilt it should be nice and clean...take some pics of the leak? I would expect the chap to offer to look at it for you. What guarantee did you have with the rebuilt engine??

[Wingit100]

Cheers Ermie, no guarantee as such, it's a professional who was a friend of a friend if you like so shouldn't be a problem. Will give him the chance.

[Wingit100]

By way of an update i got itchy feet today and dropped the engine myself, the housing was indeed contaminated with oil. Will take clutch off tomorrow to see where the leak is coming from. The hole where the aforementioned spigot bearing should be looks a bit messy with a rusty slimey deposit, this cant be good. I will post further tomorrow. Cheers.

[ermie571]

Any news?

[Wingit100]

Hey Ermie, sorry for delay. Well I'm none the wiser really. There was definitely oil in the housing between engine and box. It is not obvious where it's coming from thou? The seals on the engine side and o ring behind fly wheel are new and appear to be fitted properly. The spigot bearing is missing needle bearings so I will replace this.
My best guess is that the oil is coming from the gearbox input seal which has never been replaced. The is a bit of movement on the input shaft itself is this normal. My theory is that it is the gearbox oil which is leaking as when I ran the van to temp whilst static the usual puddle of oil did not leak out. Is it possible that this is because the gearbox was not been used and so didn't build up any temp or pressure? Is this a ridiculous theory?? I am just struggling to identify correctly where the oil is coming from. Thank you for all of your help.