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By Jeff - 13 Years Ago
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Before I install my two piece rear main seal I would like to clean up the journal to insure long seal life (I'm doing this with the engine in the car). There is a very slight amount of roughness/corrosion which I can feel. I assume it's from contamination which has accumulated in the old rope seal over the years. Is there something which can be used to polish the journal that won't leave a surface that will be detrimental to the neoprene seal?
Let me know what you think.
Thanks
Jeff
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By MoonShadow - 13 Years Ago
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Look around for some Emory cloth. It's a very light abrasive surface and good for cleaning spots like you have. Chuck
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By JoeBob - 13 Years Ago
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Crocus cloth! Then ensure you clean up the area real good. I like to blast it with contact cleaner.
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By Jeff - 13 Years Ago
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Thanks for the advice!
Jeff
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By MoonShadow - 13 Years Ago
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As I recall its was Emory for removing small amounts of material like a little rust on a journal. Crocus was much finer and was used for polishing. It removed very little material. I think??? Chuck
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By slumlord444 - 13 Years Ago
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I was discussing the same problem with a mechanic firend today. I have the crank out of the engine and he suggested taking it to a machine shop and having the seal surface turned. Talked to a machine shop today and they said to bring it in and they would tell me if this would work. Any idea how much material you can remove to clean up the surface and still have the new neoprene seal work properly? I pollished up pretty well with 400 wet paper followed up with crocus cloth but I am thinking having it turned would make sure it will not leak. Easy to do with the engine apart.
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By PF Arcand - 13 Years Ago
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If you mic it & it checks out really good as is, why have it turned?
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By slumlord444 - 13 Years Ago
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Because the oil seal surface was pitted and while polishing smoothed it out the surface is still not perfect. Pits are still there. Just smoother.
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By PF Arcand - 13 Years Ago
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If the seal area is turned down very much it's likely that the neoprene seal will not work properly. So, your options are to leave it as is & hope it does not leak noticeably or turn it down & then go back to a rope style seal. Best Gasket makes a new Kevlar rope seal, that is supposed to work well "if" installed carefully..
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By slumlord444 - 13 Years Ago
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I took it to the machine shop and had them turn it. Should not take much to clean it up. I would think the neoprene seal would not have a problem with it. The machine shop guy seemed think the neoprene seal would not work due to the fact that the crank was not perfectly centered in the old engnines. My take on it is that I have not had a rope seal that did not leak yet so I am going to go with the neoprene seal. I will be looking closely at it when I put it in.
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By 54mercury312 - 13 Years Ago
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The last crankshaft I took in to have polished, (312 crank, a couple years back ) they told me they could not get into the small width of the rear main oil seal journal to clean it up, but I believe they hit it with the emory cloth and cleaned it up some what. So far so good, no leak with the neoprene 2 piece seal. 1954 Mercury 312
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By slumlord444 - 13 Years Ago
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Got the crank back from machine shop Friday. Only took about .003 off it. Should not be enough to cause a problem. Will be quite some time before car is back together and engine is running again but I will let you know how it works out.
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