Flywheel side crank seal installation

[dtxscott]

I’ve done this job a few times but typically fight with the inner seal surface trying to slide cleanly over the crank.

While in a call today and staring at an empty Super Big Gulp cup, it occurred to me that it would make a great inner lip guide tool.

I simply:
1. I cut the cup down to about 100mm high measuring from the bottom.
2. Cut hole in base as a pressure relief vent
3. Slid cup over crank
4. Slid seal over cup……. I was able to install the seal about 75% deep by finger pressure
5. Tap seal into place
6. Remove cup

Below are pics for reference.




I thought this may help somebody in the future

[brighton911]

Well done, simple and cheap. Innovation is one of the fun parts of "tinkering".

[Flojo]

this looks no bueno, like it is applying force on the wrong part of the seal!

the strong bit is the "grey" ring between the "black outer and "red" inner lip

[Rodsrsr]

I just did this job. I tried the Elring but didn't like how it went in 75% by hand. I ended up using a genuine Porsche seal which fit much tighter and seemed to be more well made overall.

As long as you lube the inner part of the seal with lots of grease you should be fine. I don't think the above procedure is necessary at all, and if anything its stretching the seal in an attempt to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

[KTL]

Originally Posted by Flojo

this looks no bueno, like it is applying force on the wrong part of the seal!

the strong bit is the "grey" ring between the "black outer and "red" inner lip

No actually the big drink cup is completely bueno because it provides a way of protecting/supporting the inner seal lip as the seal body is driven inward. If the seal lip grabs on the crankshaft surface, it can tear and cause a leak. It's also a good supporter of the garter spring around the lip.

The big drink cup is basically a copy of the slim ring around the factory press tool body. It's a good approach to insuring you don't have a problem you can't see. I stole the picture below from this thread to show you what the overkill factory tool looks like

Rear Main Seal Install with P234 tool - highly recommended

[dtxscott]

Originally Posted by KTL

No actually the big drink cup is completely bueno because it provides a way of protecting/supporting the inner seal lip as the seal body is driven inward. If the seal lip grabs on the crankshaft surface, it can tear and cause a leak. It's also a good supporter of the garter spring around the lip.

The big drink cup is basically a copy of the slim ring around the factory press tool body. It's a good approach to insuring you don't have a problem you can't see. I stole the picture below from this thread to show you what the overkill factory tool looks like

This is precisely why I used this method. The first seal wouldn't go over the crank cleanly and it rolled outside over itself.

I had done this job in the past without the need of tools, but not this time.

I took inspiration from the factory tool shown above that used the inner lip guide

Also, the cup is very slick on the outside and allows a lubed inner seal to slide over cleanly. This allows for a clean extraction of the cup as well.

[Flojo]

to KTL, then the how-to picture above is confusing.
never mind. I use a wooden ring to tap.

Originally Posted by Rodsrsr

I just did this job. I tried the Elring but didn't like how it went in 75% by hand. I ended up using a genuine Porsche seal which fit much tighter and seemed to be more well made overall.

The "Porsche" one is from KECO, it is a single material seal and does not help if you already have a groove in the crankshaft head where the old seal sat.

The Elring is sure very well made.