Many of us have wondered why after installing the front crankshaft seal, it seems to fail quickly. I have created a tutorial on replacing the crankshaft seal using a cheap and effective special tool that overcomes seal seating issues. This tool is nothing more than a modified plastic cup that is used to guide the seal to a proper seating on the spacer ring. whunter is the one who uses this trick, and I thought that all of you in 617 land could use this tip.

Please excuse the crude nature of the renderings that Ive created to illustrate the steps...

Prepare the Patient
We will start the tutorial at the removal of the old seal. Clean the mating surfaces of all oil and debris with Carb & Choke cleaner. These areas must be completely free of oil before seating the seal. Failure to do this may accelerate the failure of the seal.

Step 1, Building the Special Tool
a) Find a plastic cup of 8oz (170g) plus or minus in size. I used a plastic yogurt cup.
b) Cut your cup. Cut off the top most half and bottom half. Cut vertically.
c) Break (smooth) all of your newly cut edges with 400 sandpaper. These edges, if not smoothed can cut your new seal.





Step 2, Using the Special Tool
a) With very clean hands, lube the ID (interior diameter) of the seal with ATF with a cotton swab. Think surgery.
b) Insert special tool in the ID of the seal. Aim flared side of tool towards the crankshaft.
c) Cover the spacer ring completely with the flare of the special tool.





Step 3, Seat the Crankshaft Seal
a) With the Special Tool completely covering the spacer ring, press the seal into the seated position. The seal will slide into position, and the inner lip of the seal should be perfectly seated because of the Special Tool. This is the purpose of the tool.





Step 4, Withdraw the Special Tool
a) Remove the special tool leaving the crankshaft seal behind. It should come away without any effort.





You are finished. No sealant needed, and the inner lip of the seal should have a proper seating on the spacer ring. This improper seating is often the cause of the rapid seal failure.

It should be noted that if the spacer ring is not damaged, it does need to be replaced.

Yes, imagine the crankshaft is inside the block...

Attached Thumbnails

       

Crude?? The drawings look like they could have come from a textbook.

Using the plastic cup to protect the inner seal surface is a neat trick. I used a similar procedure awhile back to replace the selector shaft seals on a BMW 540i transmission. My "shoehorn" for that installation was a short piece of a jumbo soda straw. Worked like a charm -- After I wrecked a seal trying to install it without a shim.

Nice job.

in real life.

Thank you for the fantastic graphics.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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How many times did we replace that seal Roy?

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Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
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Like heck they're crude. Nice diagrams and thanks for taking the time to make them up. I'm sure that'll come in handy some day.

__________________
Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

cool. I use part of a plastic lid that comes on aerosol cans when i did the wifes volvo seals, but next time around, i will try this one out. thanks for the exellent write up.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

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I am guessing by "crude" you are referring to Doc Brown's need for perfection, and his constant "Please excuse the crudeness of the models and lack of scale"
from the "Back to the Future" movies.
VERY nice tutorial!
Thank you VERY much!
John

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Wonderful post.

Now do you have an idea on replacing the upper support bracket that makes the top half of the seal area??

The mechanic at the dealer recommended re-sealing this while I'm there as well as all the front seals since everything is out while doing the front crank seal.

Replacing the 300TD front crankshaft seal and other front of block oil leaks



Here's the problem. The manual calls for a special tool 617 589 00 14 00 to center and install the front crank housing cover. The tool has a centering hole for the crank and the outer size for centering the crank cove rand the upper oil pan. I was able to borrow the tool from the dealer ( neat trick ) so I was able to reseal the cover. I should of measured the tool for future reference. I'm sure I can measure it at the dealer if anyone needs the measurements.
Have you guys come up with any suitable designed tool for this??

As posted you can probably replace the cover by feel. your aligning the top cover edge with the upper oil pan edge while tightening to cover bolts. So I figured it could be done by feel of the edges by a careful person.

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

I noticed that you specify ATF. The manual calls for grease in the seal prior to instalation. Job 03-324.

Why are you using ATF and not grease? An info would be helpful.

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Thanks so much for the great tip. My '59 220SE is apart right now, for motor mounts, water pump, and the front seal.

Does anyone know where to get the rubber tits that go inside the harmonic balancer on these old timers. The local dealer had no idea, and just just gave me a dumb look today.

Thanks, John.

* It is a light lube oil.
* It is readily available.
* It will not gum up like cold grease.
* Seal technologies have changed for the better in twenty years.

Added to the DIY wikki tab.

OM617 ('82 300TD) Crankshaft Seal Replacement "Special Tool"
http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/OM617CrankshaftSeal

If the spacer ring IS damaged it does not need to be replaced as it can be turned round the other way and reused. The seal sits off centre on the spacer ring.

__________________
Beagle

Fantastic drawings.
What CAD system did you use. I assume it is a CAD system.

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1984 300SD turbo 126
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Looks like Pro/E

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