Never checked the gap...I should probably re-order everything that you did.

I'm curious though, it was fine for a while. I replaced the seal over a month ago, now all of the sudden its going bad. It never went bad before, but has gone bad twice since I had my new clutch/FW/tranny installed...i'm really wondering if it is a transmission problem because I know several honda mechanics and they all say that rear main seal failures are rare.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BauleyCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Never checked the gap...I should probably re-order everything that you did.

I'm curious though, it was fine for a while. I replaced the seal over a month ago, now all of the sudden its going bad. It never went bad before, but has gone bad twice since I had my new clutch/FW/tranny installed...i'm really wondering if it is a transmission problem because I know several honda mechanics and they all say that rear main seal failures are rare.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, I can tell you this. From looking how this seal is suppose to be installed and seeing some of the aftermarket flywheels, I am surprised it hasn't happened more often. I am especially speaking from ACT flywheel users. Here is why.

The stock flywheel has no "Cupping" per se on it (At least I don't think it does). So having a seal that falls out of place a little isn't going to matter. Now the aftermarket flywheels (ACT I speak of mostly here) have this "cupping" on them. I might have taken a picture but I can't remember. So the tolerance for error just isn't there. Spec it to the lower part. If I remember right spec is .01-.03. We set mine to .01. The seal we took off was gapped at .11 which is 10 times that of what we set the enw one at. Hence the reason for the massive leak. Am I making sense or do I need more coffee?

 

&lt;-- is not looking forward to pulling his tranny again

 

let me join the club, I need to replace the seal too.

what a pain in the @$$.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BauleyCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">&lt;-- is not looking forward to pulling his tranny again </TD></TR></TABLE>

Anything involving pulling trannies in FWD cars sucks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HXMan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Anything involving pulling trannies in FWD cars sucks. </TD></TR></TABLE>

This will be the 5th time i've pulled my tranny.

1st - ISB install
2nd - To fix first fucked up ISB install
3rd - New clutch/FW/tranny
4th - Bad rear main
and coming soon...5th - Bad rear main again

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BauleyCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

This will be the 5th time i've pulled my tranny.

1st - ISB install
2nd - To fix first fucked up ISB install
3rd - New clutch/FW/tranny
4th - Bad rear main
and coming soon...5th - Bad rear main again</TD></TR></TABLE>

Trust me, I know it sucks. If you got ?'s on the seal let me know.

Having a lift helps a ton for this job.

 

I'm looking at the helms...and it says in the flywheel install section "Align the hole in the flywheel with the crankshaft dowel pin and install the flywheel. Install the bolts finger tight." What does this mean?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BauleyCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm looking at the helms...and it says in the flywheel install section "Align the hole in the flywheel with the crankshaft dowel pin and install the flywheel. Install the bolts finger tight." What does this mean?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I need to run an errand but will look at my manual when I get back.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BauleyCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm looking at the helms...and it says in the flywheel install section "Align the hole in the flywheel with the crankshaft dowel pin and install the flywheel. Install the bolts finger tight." What does this mean?</TD></TR></TABLE>

This help?


Although I don't remember using a dowel pin when installing the flywheel? Then again, it wasn't my turn to install it.

 

Same thing for me, who knows. I just put some oil dye in the motor so i'll be able to see if its the rear main seal or the clutch Because the thing for me was that the seal was installed well over a month ago (more like 6 wks), and it hasn't been acting up until now, whereas you noticed the leak almost immediately.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BauleyCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Because the thing for me was that the seal was installed well over a month ago (more like 6 wks), and it hasn't been acting up until now, whereas you noticed the leak almost immediately.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You install the seal dry? (no grease on the inner seal part). \


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BauleyCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just put some oil dye in the motor so i'll be able to see if its the rear main seal or the clutch</TD></TR></TABLE>

oil dye, is that really needed?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by turbogixxer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
You install the seal dry? (no grease on the inner seal part).
</TD></TR></TABLE>

No. Seal was lubed and RTV sealant was used where needed.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by turbogixxer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
oil dye, is that really needed?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes. The seal never leaked until I put a different transmission on. The dye is there to make sure that the oil is coming from the engine and that it's not the tranny spewing MTF onto the clutch.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BauleyCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

No. Seal was lubed and RTV sealant was used where needed.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You checked to see if there was go grooves on the crank? The seal is straight?

I have seen some seal leak and they were installed correctly (rear main).

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BauleyCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yes. The seal never leaked until I put a different transmission on. The dye is there to make sure that the oil is coming from the engine and that it's not the tranny spewing MTF onto the clutch.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Great idea. either way you will have to pull the transmission to fix it. Inspect it again when it is apart to see if you are replace the right part.

Sucks redoning a job for a freaking seal.

 

Another prob when u are puting it on put it on crucked like i mean put one side on and pull it gently so the spring does not come out of the seal. Ive see alot of guys just shove it on and the spring on the insde of the seal pops out then its junk.

Put some lube on the inner part of the seal then put the top of the seal on and pull it down a bit then put the bottom on then tighten the bolts.

Also run ur fingers around the crankshaft cheack for some burrs. I had mine go twice cause the person who installed it popped the spring out of place stupid machine shop.

And once again i trusted them on this motor now i think its leaking or the tranny input shaft seal is leaking.

 

Yeah, i think i'm going to have to just get a new input shaft seal as well as rear main seal...and hope that fixing it this time actually works.

 

question ladysman...are you running a PCV valve and stock breather box along with that catch can you have plumbed into the back of the block?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by D-Man &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">question ladysman...are you running a PCV valve and stock breather box along with that catch can you have plumbed into the back of the block? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Nope, just Endyn's breather with no PCV.

 

you have the nipple on the valve cover open or routed to the turbo intake?

 

Open as seen here with an autozone (Jesse James special filter).


Why you ask?

 

I was just wondering if you were gonna run into little problems down the road with a set-up like that like oil getting dirty quicker or something like that...you know having some sort of positive vacuum in the crankcase helps with ring seal.


anyway..thanks for the anwsers w/pics

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by D-Man &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was just wondering if you were gonna run into little problems down the road with a set-up like that like oil getting dirty quicker or something like that...you know having some sort of positive vacuum in the crankcase helps with ring seal.


anyway..thanks for the anwsers w/pics </TD></TR></TABLE>

Must be why it is taking longer for mine to seal but the slight oil smoke is getting better....at least from what I can tell. So you are saying free isn't good now (for breakin) but later it will be?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ladysman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Must be why it is taking longer for mine to seal but the slight oil smoke is getting better....?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nah,I dont think it'll help it breakin faster but it might possibly help the smoking

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ladysman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> So you are saying free isn't good now (for breakin) but later it will be?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm saying free isnt the ideal set-up no-matter what time as compared to some kind of vacuum sucking on the crankcase.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by D-Man &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Nah,I dont think it'll help it breakin faster but it might possibly help the smoking

I'm saying free isnt the ideal set-up no-matter what time as compared to some kind of vacuum sucking on the crankcase.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

OK, then why the catch cans then. I am lost now.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ladysman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
OK, then why the catch cans then. I am lost now. </TD></TR></TABLE>

The catch can is nothing but a fancy breather set-up like yours.They like the Moroso can are suppose to be used on the outlet end of a vacuum pump so it doesnt spray an oil mist out..so you have the pump sucking on the crankcase and blowing out the fumes thru the catch can.


Modified by D-Man at 1:37 AM 6/27/2004


Modified by D-Man at 1:39 AM 6/27/2004