How much oil leask from your front seal?

Post by **sii803** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:10 am

How much oil leaks from your fornt seal?

I like a clean engine bay and garage floor come to that. The leakage past the front seal seems excessive, but when i looked at the design it seems it is always going to have an uphill battle to work well. So I want to know whats normal. Is it possible to get new seals?

Cheers,
Matt

Post by **alanworland** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:32 pm

I have just replaced the 'lower half' of the seal while I had the sump off for maintenance and yes it is a bit of a crude affair (it didn't leak before and I hope it wont now!) These are still available but a Ford tractor front seal would be very useable
Do you know if the oil thrower in the timing cover is the right way round?
If it has just started leaking make sure that the breather pipe is clear and the vented oil filler clean
I did consider that if I did get a leak from the crank seals I would try and connect the breather pipe to the inlet manifold (at least partially) to drop the crankcase pressure and hopefully the oil leak!

Post by **Scott** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:14 am

I have fitted a modern one piece seal to mine. I detailed this in an email to Mike Perry approx 10-11 years ago after reading of the problem in a Minor Matters article.

Basically, the outer lip of the sump & timing cover needs to be machined off, then a suitable seal can be fitted. I don't have the exact measurements to hand but matching up a suitable seal wasn't a problem.

Post by **alanworland** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:22 pm

I seem to remember many years ago my front seal went through a 'leaking period' hellava mess, dissolved fan belt, terrible, dont know why it started, but it stopped and has been ok since! Strange!

Post by **sii803** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:40 am

Well, it give me something to think about.

Why do you say a ford tractor fornt seal allan? Is it similar? The reason I ask is I have a friend who works ina trator dealership and he is into old fords.

It has been leaking all the time I have had it (only 9 odd months). when I replace it I will check to see if the thrower is on the right way round.

Failing that, does anybody know if one of the bigger mechants with an online store sell the seal?

I'm not ruling out scotts idea either, sounds sensible. It does seem to ask for a one piece seal. But then there is the originality, or am I taking it to extremes?

Thanks for your help everyone, this is why this forum is so imoportant.

Post by **alanworland** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:37 pm

I popped in our local engine reconditioners to enquire about the front 'rope' type seal and if it was available. Chap said they didn't have one but produced this large rope type seal which is apparently fitted to Ford tractors in the same position ie the front crankshaft seal it looked very close to what I had removed and thought it could be pressed into service if I was stuck.
It was preformed into a curved shape which was too large a radius and about twice as long as needed! but because of the material it could be re formed and cut down quite easily.
I dont know what tractor it fitted, but it might be worth an ask at your local engine re conditioners!

Post by **sii803** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:42 am

Thanks Allan,
I have used to rebuilt an old pump a suqare section waxy rope that came off a role. It was cut at 45 degrees so you get a bit of overlap where it joins. Sounds like similar stufff, i know where i can get some of that, I'll have a word to my tractor mechanic mate and see what he reccons.

Cheers,
Matt