Groves on my 292 crank rear main journal?


http://209.208.111.198/Topic6057.aspx 		Print Topic | Close Window

By EVLowe - 18 Years Ago
Hello everyone,

My fresh rebuild was really leaking bad, and now that it's torn apart again, it appears that the main reason for the leak was a warped rear-main seal retainer.

The strange thing is, I also found that the rear main journal has two groves in it that run all the way around. They're spaced about 1/4 inch apart and definitely look deliberate, like there were intended for some purpose (for what reason, I don't know). I'm now wondering if groves were part of the problem. I have a new neoprene seal is going in, but will those groves hamper the operation of the seal? Has anyone see these groves before, or have any experience with this situation?

Thanks in advance for you help,

Ed

P.S. This crank was machined, and why that surface was not turned down to eliminate the groves, I have no idea. The groves may have been too deep.

By Glen Henderson - 18 Years Ago
Sounds as if that journal just lacked a little cleaning up when the crank was turned and rather than going another .010 thousands they decided that it was not worth the extra material to make it perfect.  You did not indicate how deep they appear to be and what undersize it was turned, that might help explain them.  I don't think they were causing the rear seal to leak anyway.  Be sure to take Ted Eaton's advice on installing the new rubber seal, "make sure that the lip faces inward, offset the ends about a 1/4" and place a small amount of silicon sealer at the mating surfaces of the retainer and a small amount for the side seals".
By EVLowe - 18 Years Ago

Thanks for the reply

It could very well be that this journal lacked a little cleaning up, but I don't know how much material has been taken off. I'll have to ask my machineist I guess. I just figured those groves must be intentional and their purpose known by someone on this forum.  They look too deep to be from wear and tear.

I've alreay printed off Ted Eaton's proceedures on installing the new neoprene seal and will follow them to the T.

Thanks again for your help.

Ed