fbekholden.com

Not sure why but this will be the 3rd front seal in under 1000 miles. Last one lasted about 6 months and 600 miles.
Pretty sure I've installed them all correctly (loosely fit cover, put balancer on, tighten up bolts, take balancer off, finish tightening bolts) It originally leaked with the new Balancer, so I put the old one back on when I did the second seal, still leaked. Last time I replaced the front cover too.
Any ideas?

cheers
john

Some ideas (some are more likely, and some easier to correct, than others):

a) lip seal was run dry when first started up. Smear with oil to prevent grabbing and tearing on initial startup.
b) hamonic balancer has had a groove run into it by the old seal. New seal is either biting into the groove, or running on a piece of balancer shaft that is pitted. Check shaft for grooving, and either sleeve (not too likely anymore) or replace. Clean remainder of shaft with crocus cloth before reoiling and assembling.
c) crank snout has had a love-tap at some stage and is bent. Put a dial gauge on snout and check runout.
d) harmonic balancer is out of balance, with the rubber outer wobbling about. Change to new PowerBond balancer.
e) Incorrect seal supplied. Should be Rare Spares VS13801. Try NAK part number E143.225.37 to be certain.
f) way, way too much belt tension applied to fan belt (unlikely).

Cheers,
Harv

Thanks Harv

Good point. Without the slinger ring, oil is free to creep up the crankshaft.

Cheers,
Harv

SunnyTim wrote:Have you got the splash guard on the end of your crank?

Yeah Tim. It's there. Not sure whats going on. I'll pull it apart on the weekend. Decided I should probably do the timing gear this time around. Being an exchange engine a few years back I am sure they would of replaced the gear with a new fibre one. Just chasing an alloy one as we speak.