Running engine without gearbox?

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 12:56 pm

I am most of the way through a clutch change.
I have replaced the rear seal, but some idiot before me had used silicone to hold the rear seal in so i had to remove the seal housing.
I have been having a nightmare trying to find quickly and affordable the rear half moon sump seal, as the original one is a little hard.
I, at 2 in the morning decided to reuse the old half moon. :roll:

I have put it all back together using gasket goo for the top half of the housing and aviation gasket sealant for on top and bottom sides of the half moon seal.
I did not have RTV in the garage. Kind of wish i had of just waited till morning, but i never seem to think that straight after hours under a car.
Looks pretty sealed to me, but i would hate to have to remove the transmission/exhaust etc etc just because it was not sealed correctly and risk contaminating my new clutch.

My question is, if i put the flywheel back on can i run the engine without the transmission attached, just to make sure it is not leaking?
Will this cause any issues?
Obviously i would not get under the car while it is running.
My plan was to lay white paper underneath, then run it till it warmed up, give it a few revs, then let it cool down and then check for drips.

Is this utterly STUPID :oops:

??
Will my car explode killing all within a 10 k radius?

Does the car need the transmission attached for load or something?
I am assuming the flywheel will provide that.

Thanks in advance.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 1:25 pm

Yes, it's utterly stupid. Gasket goo and aviation sealant are crap. Have a rest, get the right gasket and some proper RTV.

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 3:21 pm

Your 100% right.
I've decided to do just that.
Funny how sleep makes everything seem easier to think about. :oops:

Only bummer is i will have to wait a week or so.
I have ordered the Rear moon seal and another rear main seal from MX5parts.
As Mazda wanted $70 for the rear seal and $45 for the half moon.
NO THANKS.
MX5parts all up delivered was $48.
Tried to call MANIA all afternoon but no ones picking up. Meh...

Sux as i had just used a Genuine new rear main seal, but i am worried if i pop it back out and reuse it, it might be damaged and leak and after all this i really do not want that.
So that was $30 down the drain.
That will teach me for trying to finish a job the dodgy way.

Is there a particular RTV i should use for it all?
Also there was no gasket for the top half main seal housing when i took it apart.
The manual states no such gasket either so i assume you just use the RTV there.

Black_Penguin · Postby **Black_Penguin** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 1:22 am

The guys at MANIA are down at Phillip Island from the 24th to the 28th.

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 6:32 pm

OK, i now need help.
Rear half moon seal arrived from the UK.
Had Loctite Grey RTV ready for the job.

The bloody half moon does not seem to fit, ie- it seems too thick for the housing to be able to go down far enough for the bolt holes.

The seal that came out with the housing its quite a bit thinner than the new one.
The top one is the new seal.

I assume this was due to it being squished.
Would this mean i need to remove the sump (really do not want to), then install the housing and then clamp the seal down with the the sump?? :cry:

Is their some trick to it all?

My manual states that you install the housing and rear main seal first, then RTV, then place the seal over it, then the sump during a rebuild.
I just hope that you can install this seal without the sump being off.

Any help much appreciated.

mazdatenfive · Postby **mazdatenfive** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 6:44 pm

Front and rear sump seals are different.

MX-5 Sump Seals.JPG

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:06 pm

Thanks for that.
I believe i have the right one.
But who knows.

Do you have a part number for the rear one?

I am thinking i might just use the old seal and plenty of RTV.

The car has been up in the air now for like a month.
I just really wish whoever was in there last had not used silicone all over the rear seala nd i did not need to remove the housing. :evil:

mazdatenfive · Postby **mazdatenfive** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 8:57 am

B6F4-10-428

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 9:06 am

Well i decided to go with the old half moon.

It fits nicely, though i imagine having the rubber under more pressure would create a better seal.
I have used Loctite's GREY RTV, quite generously, in the hopes it will seal it.
I have just installed the housing and will leave it to sit till Saturday to allow it to cure so i can then make sure the rear main area is clean and clear of any extra RTV.

I think it looks pretty good, time will tell i guess.

If it does leak then i will pull the whole engine and remove and re-install the sump.
Will let me tap a oil return while i am at it. :twisted:

Thanks to those that helped.