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Re: BMC A series oil seal problem

To: Gerald Brazil <gerrybraz@voyager.net>
Subject: Re: BMC A series oil seal problem
From: Susan and John Roper <vscjohn@iamerica.net>
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 21:29:38 -0500
Gerald, I can't solve your oil leak, but would recomment that you look into a
velvatouch puck type clutch disc that will be much less affected by any oil that
it sees.  Only down side is possible increased wear on the flywheel.  John

Gerald Brazil wrote:

> 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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