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

Jeff Petersen

Look around for some Emory cloth. It's a very light abrasive surface and good for cleaning spots like you have. Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Crocus cloth! Then ensure you clean up the area real good. I like to blast it with contact cleaner.

Thanks for the advice!



Jeff

Jeff Petersen

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

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

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.

If you mic it & it checks out really good as is, why have it turned?

Paul

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.

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..

Paul

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.