Crankshaft Oil Seal

Post by **Ian_Fearn** » 12 Oct 2006, 16:40

The rear crankshaft oil seal on my Syncro is leaking.

What i'd like to know is how difficult is it to remove the gearbox? I dont have any lifting equipment to get the box off but it might be a good time to do the VC too.

Fearny.

Post by **Aidan** » 12 Oct 2006, 22:00

Ian,
front seal ?, ie you are getting oil in the bellhousing ?
petrol or diesel ?
You'll need at least one trolley jack and preferably two for a petrol (one to support the engine)
I've made an adapter for my jack which allows the job to be done one personed without breaking anything or anyone.
You also need two good tall axle stands to lift the back to give room to work.
The VC is inside the front diff unit which you won't be touching.
I'd think about going to brickweks if you haven't got the necessary equipment - though I'll happily lend you mine if you want to give it a go.
It's fairly straightforward, but awkward and frustrating, especially on a petrol as access to the starter motor is pants and the wiring loom a bit short in places and you'd be suprised at how much has to come off and/or be disconnected.
Personally I break into the clutch hydraulic circuit rather than remove the slave cylinder from the box which isn't the vw procedure, but I find it easier to do, and I empty the slave of fluid whilst the box is out and then bleeding the clutch does help to get rid of the dirty fluid that sits in the cylinder and corrodes and wears the seal. The bleed nipple cover makes a perfect seal on the pipe that you've disconnected, but clamp off the feed to the master cylinder to reduce the loss of fluid whilst undoing the joint.
Are you going to brickie's do on the 28th - be plenty of northern syncro peeps to offer advice etc..

Post by **Ian_Fearn** » 13 Oct 2006, 15:35

I'm getting oil in the bellhousing, yes.

Its a petrol model.

I'd like to get along to Brickwerks and i'm going to make an effort but the missus has told me under NO UNCERTAIN circumstances is our westy to go offroading!

Post by **KevH** » 13 Oct 2006, 15:39

Ian_Fearn wrote: I'd like to get along to Brickwerks and i'm going to make an effort but the missus has told me under NO UNCERTAIN circumstances is our westy to go offroading!

We promise not to break it too much

, she'll never know if you don;t tell her.

Post by **Ian_Fearn** » 13 Oct 2006, 15:43

The reality of this job is that the engine is a recent recon from a well known specialist in essex.

They have offered to do the job but i'm very much a hands on person. I'd rather spend a day fixing it myself than driving to essex and back!

Post by **Aidan** » 14 Oct 2006, 12:53

But little Mick loves syncros and would enjoy doing it - and hey it is their work that needs sorting - I know what you mean about doing it yourself though, but I had Simon do the tracking and that was worthwhile and not something I could easily do myself.

Post by **HarryMann** » 16 Oct 2006, 09:59

I'd like to get along to Brickwerks and i'm going to make an effort but the missus has told me under NO UNCERTAIN circumstances is our westy to go offroading!

Ah well, so that lovely camping spot across that lovely field down by that lovely meandering river is a no-no then? Or that secluded little spot up that old track that winds up the hillside is never to be explored?

That poor VC, it'll be feeling very left out of things and probably give up the ghost through lack of use

And the difflocks will do likewise, decide that rust, corrosion and inactivity is better than a bit of shuffling to and fro...