Crank seal removal?

JE928sx4 · 09-25-2010, 01:40 PM

Anyone have a good trick for pulling the front crank seal? Mine is really on good.

Mrmerlin · 09-25-2010, 02:04 PM

take a screwdriver with a wide blade and drive it into the cutout on the relief of the seal bore.( about the 8 O clock position)
Drive it so it only goes about 3mm deep this will prevent it from damaging the crank ,
then pry it out from the side its made to be taken out this way,
use a stone to dress down the seal bore if you make a burr with the screwdriver

JE928sx4 · 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrmerlin

take a screwdriver with a wide blade and drive it into the cutout on the relief of the seal bore.( about the 8 O clock position)
Drive it so it only goes about 3mm deep this will prevent it from damaging the crank ,
then pry it out from the side its made to be taken out this way,
use a stone to dress down the seal bore if you make a burr with the screwdriver

Yea, that's what I tried at first. Not a good angle with the air pump and A/C compressor in the way. I ended up tapping a screwdriver into the seal top to distort it. Drilled a tiny hole in it and screwed a small drywall screw into it. Then used a claw hammer to yank it out. Came easy that way. I greased the new seal very lightly and used the old seal to tap around to seat it flush. Easier than the last time I did one of these about 5 years ago. Just forgot how we pulled it. Last time we used a length of PVC pipe to drive it it flush.

Landseer · 09-27-2010, 08:57 AM

Thanks for this picture.
Used this technique yesterday on an 87.

The new seal got driven past flush, maybe by 1.5mm
Are we ok with that?

JE928sx4 · 09-27-2010, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landseer

Thanks for this picture.
Used this technique yesterday on an 87.

The new seal got driven past flush, maybe by 1.5mm
Are we ok with that?

I've heard that is bad juju, but wonder. Your biggest problem will probably be some weeping of oil that can be detected before anything major might happen. Monitor and react. If any leak develops it will probably develop over several years not right away and you can pull it again a few years sooner when you do your next TB change. The Crank seal is not a normal replacement item with TB/WP change unless you are anal. I'm guessing mine was the original when I replaced it......24 years later. From what I have observed it might wear a bit on the inner most edge as the crank spins if that is against it, but the wear you most fear is around the crank itself if the seal is at and angle. If not seated at 90 degrees to the crank it will wear unevenly and weep oil eventually.

Landseer · 06:16 PM

We pushed it in too far and we figured we couldn't recover.
Part of the problem was I put assembly lube on the outside.
We then made it the same recess depth around the perimeter.
Maybe, due to the lube, I can pop this one out and refit.
Thats probably a bad idea.
We are waiting for a replacement crankgear.
I'll see if we can get another one added to the shipment.

JE928sx4 · 09-27-2010, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landseer

The owner pushed it in too far and we figured we couldn't recover.
Part of the problem was I put assembly lube on the outside.
We then made it the same recess depth around the perimeter.
Maybe, due to the lube, I can pop this one out and refit.
Thats probably a bad idea.
We are waiting for a replacement crankgear.
I'll see if we can get another one added to the shipment.

OK. Look on Ebay for seller "classiccarsandparts" and he should have front crank seals at half the price. Quick delivery with free shipping. I've bought them. Quality seals. If you need the rear seal I have a spare OEM Porsche rear crank seal. I'll sell $15 plus shipping. That will be about $20 total. In fact I'll sell it for $20 regardless with ship included priority mail USPS. I'm not going in there anytime soon so your gain. Or pick it up from me in Alexandria, VA for $15 since I know you are not too far away. Or get it from me at Frenzy 14. I'll be there. That's about 1/2 or less the price if you want it. Can probably ship tomorrow. Wed. latest.

Landseer · 09-27-2010, 07:01 PM

Thanks for the contact for seals and the offer for the rear seal.

Just doing the front and will know in the morning if Roger can add this to the owner's shipment.

I got tired and sloppy on the first install I guess.

Mrmerlin · 09-27-2010, 07:15 PM

dont put anything on the outer edge of the seal it goes in dry the seal should be flush with the block if its lower that will also work
BUT if you put oil on the outer seal it could slip out

Landseer · 09-27-2010, 08:15 PM

Gotta pull it and start again, then.

Fredfox · 09-29-2010, 04:48 AM

It is always good practice to position the seal a lttle further in than the original, the crank gets a groove worn in it and by repositioning the seal it will not run in the same groove as the old one, another fix is a speedy sleeve.