Flywheel oil seal pics

[crump167]

This is the first seal after rebuild, you can see the metal showing through where the plastic has rubbed off,


This is second seal in place before fitting flywheel, same thing happened

[tandemsandy]

Not sure if I'm getting the wrong of the stick, but the metal showing is exactly how mine looked when I fitted a new seal last month. That isn't the sealing face, its the metal core of the seal that gives it rigidity - the sealing face is the ribbed knife edge on the inside of the bore, which leaves a slight groove where it runs on the outside diameter of the flywheel boss. When I replaced mine I tapped the new seal in, but seated it 1mm shallower than where the old one was. That way the edge of the seal doesn't run in the same groove but on a new part of the flywheel boss.

Hope that helps, but apologies if I've mis-understood!


Rob

[kevtherev]

When I replaced mine I tapped the new seal in, but seated it 1mm shallower than where the old one was. That way the edge of the seal doesn't run in the same groove but on a new part of the flywheel boss.

Hope that helps, but apologies if I've mis-understood!


Rob

quite right, that metal is not the sealing face, and that's an excellent tip

[crump167]

Cheers both, can see what your saying, maybe pics not clear enough, the metal is the structure of the seal but it is covered by the outer coating, this outer coating is being rubbed off by the fly wheel and then the lip on the inside becomes detached from the outer ring, bit hard to explain, heres another pic

[crump167]

Another thing i noticed is every where someone mentions tapping the seal into place, bit confused as i pushed mine in with my thumbs

[Aidan]

is there any sign that the seal has been spinning in the case ? are the little ribs on the outer edge being eroded off the seal ?
the seal is a twin lipped design and is meant to seal in 2 planes against the flywheel so recessing it into the block will mean you are only sealing on one face

[crump167]

the outer face, the one that faces the flywheel, is being rubbed smooth by the flywheel

[tandemsandy]

quite right, that metal is not the sealing face, and that's an excellent tip

....which I can't claim credit for, I'm sure it came from someone on here!!!

Mmmm, could it be that if you're putting the seal in flush with the end of crankcase, the face of the flywheel can rub on that face of the seal and cause the damage? I'm sure when I took my old one out it was about 5mm below flush, and I put the new one in 4mm under-flush.

E D I T - ah, too slow typing! This might be it going by your last post!!!!

[California Dreamin]

Hi there,
It is difficult to see from the pictures as to whether the rear main oil seal is in far enough. Typically these are flush or just below flush and the flywheel should then have clearance.
If you are confident that the seal has been fitted as above? then there is only one other reason for this happening and that it excessive crankshaft endfloat (too much lateral movement in the crankshaft). Allowing the flywheel to rub on the seal every time the clutch is depressed (release bearing pushing onto the pressure plate).

Martin

[crump167]

Thanks for all the advise guys, gonna give it one more try as soon as I can escape to the sanctuary of the garage

[tandemsandy]

escape to the sanctuary of the garage

ROb