Short Nose Crank - mainseal replacement

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adamjp
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Short Nose Crank - mainseal replacement

Postby adamjp » Sat Sep 08, 2007 8:18 pm

When I rebuilt the engine 3 years back, I didn't stuff with the crank bolt/woodruff key and so the existing oil seal on the engine did not get replaced.

Well it has recently started dumping oil like nobody's business - so today I replaced it.

Since the car has 244,300km and being aware of the potential for short nose issues I bought not only the new seal, but the bolt, woodruff key and some Loctite 660. I have a large bottle of Loctite 242 already. I didn't want this to happen.
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:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Anyway, disassembly went well, apart from all the oil mud hanging around so first distraction was to buy some pressure pack degreaser. One can later, things were looking cleaner and it was time for the bolt of fate to be undone.

Fortunately, a mate of mine who used to rally a Familia has given me this very funky pice of metal that bolts to the cam belt drive in place of the pulley. Has a 1/2\" socket hole cut in one end. No idea where he got it, but it is GREAT :D
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Using this with a small breaker bar braced against the ground, my large 3' breaker bar made short work of the crank bolt.

The bolt came out easily, and I there did not appear to be any slop in the cam drive. So out came the woodruff key with some pliers - looks OK thinks I. Lets get the drive off and look at this damn seal.....yep, wouldn't move. Next distraction - off to the local supercrap for a harmonic balancer removal tool.

Fitted up and the drive came off like a charm. Lets get some light in there and work out how damaged the keyway is.....woohooo - looks pretty good.
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:D :D

Fitted the old key up and it is VERY tight. The new key is similarly tight.
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:D :D :D

Now to get the old seal out. I have never had a problem with these before. So distraction number 3 - another run to the store to buy a seal removal tool. Finally got the old seal out and find (#$^&(@#$^*!%^#$^ parts place gave me the wrong @%# seal! :evil: :x

Probably for a bignose crank (will check this on the bignose engine I am slowly buidling). Decide to clean everything up in preparation for an emergency run to Repco tomorrow morning, and then :idea: I MUST have the seal I didn't use when I rebuilt the engine.....Finally found it and it fits like a charm.

The cam drive is now back on with a large amount of Loctite 242 holding it to the crank, the key is correctly oriented and IN, bolt is IN, and is torqued to 85lbft. The rest of the car will be reassembled tomorrow afternoon.
Adam
RX7AFM PortedHead 11.5:1 HKS264Cams&Gears CeramicCoatedExtractors FlowExhaust Strut&BodyBraces Eibachs Konis SparcoRims Striped

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JBT
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Postby JBT » Sat Sep 08, 2007 8:25 pm

Well done! :mrgreen: . A solo dodgy :D .
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adamjp
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Posts: 519
Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Sthn NSW
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Postby adamjp » Sat Sep 08, 2007 8:37 pm

Found out where he got the crank tool....

http://www.jacsport.com/mazda.htm

And yes, a solo dodgy. Generally preferred for something like this as patience and contemplation are necessary to control potential mistakes.

Accompanied dodgy very useful for gearbox and engine replacement though.
Adam
RX7AFM PortedHead 11.5:1 HKS264Cams&Gears CeramicCoatedExtractors FlowExhaust Strut&BodyBraces Eibachs Konis SparcoRims Striped

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AJ
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Postby AJ » Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:51 pm

just proves the old saying.........\"patience is a virtue\" ........well done 8)
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