Front seal leak

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by Buick1moretime, Apr 3, 2017.

  1. I am having a front seal leak issue that I can't figure out. The engine only has about 25 miles run time on it since rebuild. I found oil slinging from the harmonic balancer so I removed the balancer and found that the spring had come off the lip of the seal. Assuming this was causing the leak I removed the front cover, cleaned up everything, put another new seal in and put it all back together again. Started it up and it looks ok but when you rev up the engine it throws oil out of the front seal again. I'm really puzzled at this. I have never experienced this type of issue before.
     
  2. alec296

    alec296 i need another buick

    Does it have a front oil slinger? Round disc in front of timing gear? Also check the knurl on balancer. You may need a speedi sleeve for seal to run on if it's touching the knurl
     
  3. It does have an oil slinger. I talked to a machinist today that suggested the same thing. He is finding me a sleeve to put over the harmonic balancer where it is knurled. I talked to T/A when I ordered a new seal and they suggested that I use a little emery cloth to smooth the knurls a bit and so I did it a little. I think I'm gonna try the sleeve and see what happens. Man I never had this much trouble with the old rope seals!!!
     
    alec296 likes this.
  4. 1973gs

    1973gs Well-Known Member

    Are the dowel pins installed in the block?
     
  5. TexasJohn55

    TexasJohn55 Well-Known Member

    I always pack the inside of seal with grease to keep the spring from popping out, especially if being driven in instead of pressing in.
     
  6. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    Is the seal installed in the correct direction? They are usually designed to only work one way.
     
    alec296 likes this.
  7. Dowels are in the block.
     
  8. Thanks John. The seal gets pressed in from the back and the previous stakes have been smoothed down as well as a small amount of RTV around the outside metal part of the seal to make sure it doesn't leak between the seal and the front cover. The spring was in place when I finished installing the seal and the harmonic balancer is a slip fit so I expect it to be in place unless the knurling is making it pop off. I intend to try a speedi sleeve over the harmonic balancer to make it smooth. No need for knurling if not using a rope seal.
     
  9. It is impossible to put the seal in backwards on this installation because it has a ring/lip around the outside metal part of the seal that basically seats against the inside of the front cover when you press it in place from the back. It won't fit backwards.
     

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