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BMC A series oil seal problem

To: "Vintage race (E-mail)" <vintage-race@Autox.Team.Net>,
Subject: BMC A series oil seal problem
From: "Gerald Brazil" <gerrybraz@voyager.net>
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 21:30:54 -0400
I know that this is going to start another flood of British car jokes but
here goes.

Last summer I got fed up with oiled clutches and ordered one of those
expensive aluminum oil seal carriers for the crank from Winners Circle. For
the first couple of practice sessions things were OK and then my clutch
started slipping again. When I pulled the engine I found that the seal had
split or been cut. I checked carefully and saw that the carrier wasn't quite
concentric with the crank. So I chalked this up to my error in assembly.
Since I was going to rebuild the engine over the off season I had time to
work out a good solution for installation.

I machined a ring from Delrin that was the exact size of the seal and I
drilled holes where the Allen head socket screws that attach the carrier to
the block so that I could screw the carrier down with the template in place.
When it was screwed down tight all I had to do was lift out the Delrin
template and put in the seal. I am sure that I am within a thousandth or so
of being concentric. It looked perfect!

Today was D Day. Since I had a new cam and lifters I ran the engine for a
full half hour on start up. Everything was great. Oil pressure was 70
pounds, water temp 180 and oil temp about 220. It ran for a half hour
between 2000 and 3000 rpm and there was no sign of an oil leak anywhere.

Pleased with myself, I went in and took a shower and put on clean clothes to
run some errands. A half hour or so later, when I got ready to leave, I
walked through the garage to admire my work and give myself a pat on the
back. To my horror, there was at least a pint of oil on the floor directly
under the car. Since I hadn't had any leaks while it was running I was
mystified as to how it could leak that much oil without pressure. When I
took out the bell housing inspection plug I had my answer. More oil than a
Sheik! I guess it was leaking out around the flywheel all the time I was
running the engine but the spinning flywheel kept it in the bell housing.
When I shut it down, it came out the drip hole in the bottom.

OK any of you geniuses out there have anything to offer on this one? And,
BIG HAMMER is not acceptable!

GJB


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