Date:         Sat, 7 Jan 2006 13:51:11 -0800
Reply-To:     David Shepherdson <shepherdsond@METRO.DST.OR.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Shepherdson <shepherdsond@METRO.DST.OR.US>
Subject:      Failed Crankshaft seal yet again
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

I think I may have found the cause of my multiple oil seal failures (87
syncro).  I just took the engine out and the main oil seal seems to be
fine this time BUT I think maybe the number one bearing is damaged.
Looking closely at the crankshaft I can see what looks like a thin (less
than 1mm) sleeve between the crankshaft and the case - is this the
bearing?  The sleeve however is not continuous and looks like bits have
been torn away leaving a bigger gap between the case and the crankshaft
in places.  My question is: is this the main bearing I am looking at and
if it is could this have caused the oil seal failure maybe by allowing
full pressure oil to hit the oil seal???  The van is now stranded in
Bend Oregon, unless I am lucky and this is not what it seems!
Thanks,
David