[Healeys] Rear main seal

[BJ8Healeys]

Hello, Healeyphiles -

 

The engine flywheel bolts to a flange on the rear of the crankshaft.  Is the
flange removable, and if so, how?  The parts manual illustration would
suggest that it's machined as an integral part of the crankshaft.

 

I have my gearbox out to fix that overdrive slipping problem I mentioned
earlier, and as long as I have it out I thought I should probably change the
clutch.   For some time I've had a moderate to severe chatter ("judder"?)
when trying to reverse the car up after the engine has warmed up (no
chattering until then, and there are 80,500 miles on the clutch.

 

Well, one thing always leads to another.  As long as the clutch and flywheel
are off the car, why not replace the rear main seal?  It has 80,500 miles on
it, too.   But the rear main seal is a solid circle, like a typical wheel
oil seal, and so is the housing that retains it at the back of the engine.
I don't see any way to replace that seal without removing the flange first.
Has anyone done this before?

 

By the way, the clutch disk still looks new, except that it does have a
narrow dark ring in the center of the friction material.   That's probably
burning from trying to slip the clutch gently when the chattering starts.
There is more of a greasy film on the pressure plate than I would like to
see, too, which may explain the chattering.

 

Thanks, and Happy Healeying!

 

Steve Byers

HBJ8L/36666

BJ8 Registry

AHCA Delegate at Large

Havelock, NC