915 inputshaft seal

[75-911S]

Can the input shaft seal on a 915 transmission (without the removable guide tude) be pushed in too far? Or is there a lip on the transmission side of the seal surface that will stop this from happening? I put a new seal in and pushed it about a quarter of an inch beyond where the old one was seated. Am I screwed? Should I go through this the PITA procedure again and put another seal in?

Jack

[rcwaldo]

Yes it can be pushed-in too far, IIRC. Its location is not too critical just as long as its ID is riding onto the actual shaft seal surface.

[75-911S]

Anyone know how wide/long that surface is?

[dweymer]

Mine is leaking, can that be done with trans in the car?

[jdowty3]

The engine must be removed to get at the seal.

[syncroid]

The overall length of the guide tube is 60mm. The shoulder starts approximately 35mm into the tube. The shoulder is 13-15mm wide. You do need to have the engine out of the car.

[dweymer]

Thanks

[75-911S]

Syncroid,
Thanks for your fast response. My guide tube is about 40.5 mm long from the front to the place it enters the mag casing. The seal now sits about 43.5 mm from the begining of the guide tide. As I mentioned earlier this is about 3.5 beyond where the previous seal was which was about even with the mating point of the guide tube and the mag case (approx. 40.5 mm).

I realy don't want to fish the new seal out and start over. So if there is 3-4 mm of outside surface in front of it and 10mm or more behind the seal I think it will be okay to leave it as is.

I trust the guys on this forum, but need the reassurance that I shouldn't have to drop the engine, change a soaking cluth disk, etc. later on.

Jack

[ChrisBennet]

I believe that the guide tube changed at some point and the inside lip where the seal sits changed. All-Data has a nice cutaway drawing of the differences. (I saw it when I was at a friend's shop. Maybe someone can post it.)
If you replace the guide tube look at the inside where the seal seats before blindly following the what your Factory Manual directions. I wish I could be more specific but my memory sucks.
The important thing is that the seal rides on the smooth part of the input shaft.
-Chris

[75-911S]

Thanks Chris,
Unfortunately my tranny is not one of those with the removable guide tube. Sure would make things easier.

Jack

[syncroid]

Glad to help.
BTW, You can install a new mainshaft seal on a 915 gear box without removing the old one. I have taken transmissions apart that had three or four old mainshaft seals floating along for the ride.

[75-911S]

Syncroid,
That's a great idea. I think I'll do it.

Jack