Re: Replacing the internal crankshaft seal (1of 3)
Wrong type of seal, Bob!
The seal is a flat spring steel, permanently bent into a circle. When installed it will have a small gap like a piston ring. You MUST lift the crank to install it. Slip it in between the roller bearing and the seal land, then spread it over the land and into the groove. You can also simply slip it over the groove. If you remove the rod ends and lift the crank high enough, it will bend enough without breaking. The gap should be about centered on the semi-circular seal area.. do not allow it to be near the crankcase split line. Push them down as far as possible before installing the block front half.
However, be extremely careful when re-seating the crankshaft. This is a painstaking process as the four bottom bearings are pinned to the block and you need to seat each one, in order, from the top down. Place the crank onto the block with the bearings in the approximately correct position. Then slightly wiggle the bearing until you find the pin and it seats in the hole in the bearing shell.
While doing this you must be very careful to ensure that the crank seals stay in their grooves. Try and force the crank down with a misplaced seal and the seal will surely break.
