Clutch salvagable???

cruiksdr · 12-02-2003, 05:18 PM

I'm so &%&$ pissed!! The rear main seal on my recent engine build leaks like a shower head. I had it on my list to fix this month, but now my 3000 mile new clutch has started slipping badly. It's bad enough that I have to put in a new seal already, but I can't stand the idea of replacing a brand new sachs clutch.

Once a clutch has been oil soaked, is there any way to save it?

I think I know the answer, but...

Va914 · 12-02-2003, 05:28 PM

I have used Asetone (?) to remove some of the oil from the oil soaked disc. It is not the correct way but the CSOB way. It may get you by for a few months, just enough time until you tax return comes in and can buy a new disk.

I would reuse the disk until you are sure the leak is fixed. You'll become an expert on a tranny removal while the engine is still in

Best of luck
Kerry

SteveStromberg · 12-02-2003, 05:45 PM

Acetone works, Get a 5 gal.container with a lid set the disc it it Cover with Acetone let sit over night. Remove disc and let dry. if it was slipping you may need to hit it with 180 sand paper to break the glaze. steve

cruiksdr · 12-02-2003, 06:54 PM

Thanks guys!

So, Steve, would you agree with Kerry that this will be a temp fix, or will your fix hold over time? I prefer to keep my engine dropping to a minimum. There are clutch discs on ebay for less than $100. What would you do?

Daniel

SteveStromberg · 12-02-2003, 07:48 PM

It all depends on how oily it got. A gallon of acetone will pull a lot of oil out of the disc let it soak for a day or two. I have gotten good results in the past doing this. I had a seal go bad in a Bus down in Baja back in the Old days before the road was paved. The disc was oiled up and slipping, pulled the motor and luckily I had a goodseal in the parts stash. a Surfer always has Acetone for board repairs, any way I replaced the seal and soaked the Disc, sanded it a bit put it in and Drove on. iIt lasted untill I needed to rebuild the motor a year or so later. Steve

mike95125 · 12-02-2003, 08:15 PM

Also, you may want to look in your area for clutch rebuilders. They may be able to re-shoe your disk for a lot less than a new one. (Some one told me)

mike95125 · 12-02-2003, 08:17 PM

Oh, and bee sure to check your gallery plugs. I had taken my whole tranny off and had a new seal that a friend let me have just to find the oil is weaping out of a gallery plug. You can clean and seal the plug though with JB weld. Keep us updated on your progress or lack there of.

cruiksdr · 12-03-2003, 04:33 AM

Sounds good, but what's a gallery plug?

cruiksdr · 12-03-2003, 04:34 AM

oh, and do have to have the special P tool to install the rear main?

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Mike, You keep talking about me...

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

The oil galleries are the passages inside the crankcase where the oil runs. Some are cast into the metal, but most are drilled in. This leaves holes in the sides (well, mostly the ends!) of the crankcase, which is bad for oil pressure. So the factory shoved plugs into the holes. They are a press-fit, and over time they eventually loosen. They can leak, or they can just pop out all together. Not a fun thing when that happens...

Look for round flat spots on the surface of the crankcase. There are two or three behind the flywheel, and a whole bunch more up on the front end of the motor.

The rear main seal can be tapped into place with a hammer and some wood.

--DD

Zeke · 12-03-2003, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cruiksdr
Sounds good, but what's a gallery plug?

Galley plug. It's metal plug that goes in where the factory drilled the oil passages. They sometimes work loose. You'll see it right away if that's the problem.

Steve's acetone idea is good. Prewash the disc with some brake cleaner before soaking. Don't ask the acetone to remove all of it in one shot. You can get it pretty clean by just washing it off with the brake cleaner or some acetone. I don't know if you even need to leave it in overnight. Couple hours ought to do it if you pre-clean it. Eh, Steve?

cruiksdr · 12-03-2003, 07:33 AM

Thanks guys! My anger is subsiding. I think I've got a handle on this now, and feeling like it's not too big of a deal. Iwon't have the engine out probably until late January or early February, but I won't order a new clutch for the project.

Another thing, though. I've seen some discussion on the all black rear main seal vs the black/brown suggesting that the black ones are prone to failure and the brown ones are less so. I have two of the black ones already. Sould I go ahead and get the other kind to use or do you all think that this is not really an issue (remember, I'm dealing with a 2.2 six)?

skline · skline's Garage

There is one on Ebay right now for $64.95 buy it now. Good price and I think I bought one of those from the same guy. Works great.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2446864898&category=33730

Jake Raby · 12-04-2003, 04:14 PM

it in lacquer thinner and light it on fire.. do that several times and don't let it get hot enough to start falling apart..

ENSURE its not a galley plug leaking while its apart. Eveery engine should have ALL the galleys

Jim Smolka · 12-04-2003, 04:36 PM

Had a same problem once. Cleaned clutch with brake cleaner and installed clutch... it lasted a long time. Of course that was back in the days that the motor was out every month because of too much free time (military days)