Gear Oil in Drive Shaft Bellows?

[gamarines2]

I pulled my alpha 1 drive and the Drive Shaft Bellows had about a 1/2 qt of clean gear oil it. I suppose this came from the seal between the yoke and the bearings.

My question is, I have an upper housing that has some scoring on the inside of where the drive gear bearings go. How important is it that this surface is completely smooth? I don't think it should have an impact on the sealing of the oil, or does it? The assembly doesn't seal that surface, does it? If so, can that aluminum surface somehow be reworked by a machine shop or is the upper case shot?

Would a picture help the panel answer the questions?

 

[JustJason]

Re: Gear Oil in Drive Shaft Bellows?

Depends on how scored your talking about. There are 2 seals up there.

1. is an oil seal that rides against the yokeshaft.
2. the 2nd is a big o-ring that seals against the the housing.

All you can do is pressure test it, repair the leak, clean up the housing with some fine grit sandpaper by hand, put it back together by the book with new parts, and pressure test it again. It's either going to hold or it's not.

 

[Don S]

Re: Gear Oil in Drive Shaft Bellows?

If the seal surface has been rusty, or there is a noticable groove in it,and you are leaking oil into the bellows (as you say you are) replace the seal and the yoke. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than a new upper. Plus no one hear can see or feel what your yoke is like. There is a limit to what can be done on a forum.

 

[gamarines2]

Re: Gear Oil in Drive Shaft Bellows?

Thanks, Don, as always.