front crank seal

[oldwoodsman]

I have had conflicting information on installing the rope seal on the front for the crank. Do I trim the rope seal flush with the pan and timing cover or leave it long?

[Dave in MN]

I do not soak the seals in oil prior to installing.
I have best results leaving it up from the surface of the pan slightly more than 1/16". I will typically seat the seal in the pan groove with a socket slightly smaller than the diameter of the pulley. I then tap the two ends down to fill the open gaps at the pan edge and then repeat the seating process. You don't need to beat on it. After this process, I trim the protruding ends if necessary. Often, it is only necessary to trim the core material the seal is built around. (The seal I use has a black vinyl core...that trims with a side cutters.) I also use Permatex #2 in the pan groove prior to installing the rope seal. Coat the pulley contact surface of the seal with grease and the ends of the rope seal with Permatex #2 just before you install it.

[Patrick L.]

I do not cut the rope, and, I do soak them. Never had a problem with either front or rear rope seals. But, rears do have to be trimmed once in[ not Model A]
See, more than one way to milk a cow.

[James Rogers]

I never cut the front rope seal.

[Joe K]

I don't soak in oil, but I do use permatex on the outside radius of the braid. Then I pound it down and up into the two recesses using a socket slightly smaller than the pulley mating surface (pan and cover off, of course.)

Then I trim both similar to Dave in MN to allow about 1/16" interference. A dab of permatex on each side to seal the joint and then mount the cover, then the pan. Then (high point here) grease somewhat the interior seal and exterior pulley surface and PUSH or hammer slightly the front pulley into place OVER the crankshaft and INTO the matched seals.

Note the pulley running surface at the rear is a bit "tapered" as if it was made to be put together this way. In fact, I'm pretty convinced Ford put the pulleys on AFTER the motor was assembled - including the seals.

And doing it like this sort of leaves a "residual compression" to the seal?

Well, I like to think so.

Joe K

[oldwoodsman]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thanks for the input..
Tim