Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:18:51 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Crankshaft oil seal & holding that pulley
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and Pascal, how did you hold the pulley and crankshaft from turning
?............. ( with engine on the floor perhaps you used an ordinary
flywheel locking tool )
I believe that's one of the original poster's main concerns - how to hold it
from turning while wrenching on the big bolt there.
He asked about using bolts to hold the pulley from turning .......'yes'
......whatever way you can find to hold that sucker from turning while you
put a pretty big breaker bar and maybe cheater bar on it. Just be real
careful how you do it, so not to damage anything.
another way is lower the rear of the engine some ( VERY easy to do
actually - 4 bolts ) ......remove the muffler, and use an impact gun on the
crank pulley.
That's likely how I'd do it.........but then I also end up restoring the
muffler and gaskets, inspecting in the cat to make sure it looks good
etc....
my projects all grow that way, from addressing everything in the area,
including all rust I see to treat and stop, and treat to prevent in the
future )
I would also advise to be darn sure that's where the leak is.......the
'front' ........( flywheel end is called the Rear Main Seal ) .....the front
crankshaft oil seal -
I almost never see them leaking. I have occasionally replaced the seal on a
whole engine re-do and re-seal.........my point is, just be sure that's what
your real problem is, before you do digging in there cause it's not an extra
common leak point.
also.......sometimes it's not 'just the seal' as Pascal alludes too. There
can be a groove worn in the pulley sealing surface ( I have many good used
waterboxer crank pulleys for sale, if anyone needs a good one )
..............In all oil seal leakage situations.......sometimes that's just
the tip of the iceberg...... possible contributing causes can be the crank
is loose in the main bearings, or has excessive end play, and excessive
crankcase pressure, from a plane ole worn engine. You can check end play
on any engine, just by pushing in and out on the front crank pulley. If
there's a lot ,,,,,,,,,,that's not a good sign of course.
one other funny thing.......I have seen about 2,000 individual ways that VW
engines, particularly all the opposed 4 cylinder aluminum ones ( all
air-cooled and all waterboxer ) ............it wouldn't surprise me a bit to
see yet another failure mode that I've never encountered in a waterboxer
engine before.......VW uniquely is somehow able to have many, many different
failure modes in their engines.
I hope it goes well, and your oil leak is fixed for good.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Giasson, Pascal (DNR/MRN)" <Pascal.Giasson@GNB.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 5:59 AM
Subject: Re: Crankshaft oil seal
I just removed that rear crank seal last week, but the engine was on the
floor. Getting that pulley bolt off required a lot of leverage with a
cheater bar and a 1/2" breaker bar. I hade to bounce on the bar with my
160lbs body to get it loosened. I actually put protective goggles on as
I was afraid my breaker bar was going to break. I cannot possibly
imagine doing that with the motor in the van...but it's obviously
possible with the right tools. As to getting the pulley off, mine came
off fairly easily with a big screwdriver and prying on sides of the
pulley, alternating from side to side.
BTW, my pulley had a small grove worn in it from the seal...so a new
seal alone may not solve the leak.
Pascal
'84 Westy
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