Crank front seal tip and question

[Citron]

I was having a heck of a time putting the crank seal in. I couldn't get the lip of the seal to go on the shaft without bulging out. After messing with it for awhile I found an easy way to do this. I cut a peice of .05 shim stock and rolled it inside of the seal. Then I slid the back end of the shim over the shaft, and slid the seal down the shim. Once the seal was seated, I pulled the shim out. Very easy and I will definitely do this next time.

 

Now for the question. When I pulled the timing gear on the crank off, the woodruff key was nearly broken and the slot it seats in was wallowed out. This explains the timing issues I have been having. I took an SAE woodruff key and filed it down to fit pretty tight, but there is still very slight rotational movement of the gear. Is there any movement on a gear without damage? Has anyone had this problem, and is there an easy fix?

[Slartibartfast]

Nice trick with the shim stock. I don't remember mind giving me trouble, might've been a different brand/slightly different ID though.

 

I don't remember how much play there was in mine, but I don't think it was very much. Does the key have play against the sprocket or the crank? Given how much of the surface it bears against on the crank is gone, I'd want it fitting in there as tight as possible. I know a few people on here have dealt with similar issues.

[Citron]

Nice trick with the shim stock. I don't remember mind giving me trouble, might've been a different brand/slightly different ID though.

 

I don't remember how much play there was in mine, but I don't think it was very much. Does the key have play against the sprocket or the crank? Given how much of the surface it bears against on the crank is gone, I'd want it fitting in there as tight as possible. I know a few people on here have dealt with similar issues.

All of the wear is on the crank. The new key I used is oversized, I filed it to fit so it is nice and tight.

 

Good to hear others have had similar issues, hopefully they didn't have problems in the long run.

[RF600]

Another easy way to get that seal in place is to get a piece of tubing that fits the outside diameter of the seal. Put some rtv on the outside of the seal, put some white grease on the lip that goes on the crank. Just push it in place. No hammering or risk harming the seal. You would be surprised how easy it will go into place.

[Citron]

The problem was the id of the seal kept rolling over and bulging out. I had lubed the id of the seal but it didn't help. It was a different brand of seal from OEM so the inner lip didn't look quite the same.

 

I drove the seal in with a 3/4 drive deep well socket.

[adamzan]

I usually use the side of an old margarine container. Same idea but with plastic.

[pathykline92]

I used a plastic coated tag from an extention cord or something I found in the garage. I was having the same problem as the OP.

[gamellott]

When I replaced my crankshaft pulley, I don't recall having any play in it. I had also put on a new pulley which may have made up for that. OTOH, the reason why I put on a new crank pulley was because I goobered up the original because it was seized onto the crank which probably contributed to the tight fit. I just ran that in a circle....