Cascade Crew

Al Hasse

After replacing the timing cover and gasket, everything seemed fine. After taking my first 20+ mile trip, I noticed I was leaking a little oil from the area of the shaft seal in the timing cover. I think the shaft seal because oil is not just dripping straight to the ground, it's being slung onto the radiator hose below the power steering pump and onto the steering linkages nearby. While not as bad as the water leak where I had to refill the radiator, it's a leak non the less. I can keep up with this one for a while by just adding oil when needed. It also means I have to do the job all over again (unless there's a way to replace the shaft seal without removing the cover)

This looks like a front main, but the motor has less than 20K and I don't think that should go bad already (possible but not likely). Maybe I didn't get the thing completely seated and it's sitting a little cocked in the hole? Anyway, it still means replacement.

blue89 · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 7:42 am Post subject:

Did you replace it when you did the work? You may have torn it when you removed the harmonic balancer. Its easy to replace it without doing the whole thing again. Also make sure you got the balancer in there all the way and straight. I've put a few together where I had to go back in again after a couple hundered miles to retighten the crank bolt. Check the torque spec for the bolt.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 7:48 am Post subject:

Check the balancer for a wear groove. You might need the replacement sleeve.

blue89 · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:12 am Post subject:

My S10 truck had one of those on the rear main seal. I guess it worked.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:13 am Post subject:

Not to hyjack, but is the rear main easy to change? It looks a little different than the SBC ones I'm used to.

Al Hasse · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:38 am Post subject:

blue89 · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:50 am Post subject:

Also make sure the balancer isn't wobbling as its running. I've had that happen before too.....

The one piece rear main (86+) can be replaced without pulling the engine. Drop the tranny, remove the seal, replace.

The two piece main (86-) needs the engine pulled as the main caps have to be loosened/removed.

Xophertony · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:05 am Post subject:

blue89 · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 11:09 am Post subject:

Yup. Easy fix on a one piece. They also make a crank-saver sleeve if your crank has a groove in it. Remove tranny, flexplate/flywheel, and the seal is staring at you. Might as well replace the tranny input shaft seal while your at it. Just remember to rub oil on the seal before you replace it, that way it doesn't tear when you put it back in. This applies to all seals.

Al, I'm guess the harmonic balancer has a weird groove and the seal caught it funny. Or its not in all the way. Double check crank bolt tightness and also that the balancer is on straight.

Al Hasse · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 11:42 am Post subject:

blue89 · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:06 pm Post subject:

Lol, its all good. At least it was something simple! You probably did destroy it by running it dry. That seal isn't really oiled by much. I guess it would only get occasional splashes from the cam and crank. Might be a good idea to hit the balancer shaft with some sandpaper or wool. I've pulled out a couple with bad oil gunk on it.

Al Hasse · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:05 pm Post subject:

You guys called it right. Took the balancer off and discovered a nice tear in the seal. Pried that seal out and lubed up and installed the new one and I was done in about an hour.

This is the tear, looking from the bottom on the passenger side.

blue89 · Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 6:45 am Post subject:

How does your balancer look? Any oil deposites or grooves?

Al Hasse · Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:43 pm Post subject:

Looked pretty good, some oil, but no grooves. Should be hardly any wear since the motor has less than 20K on it.