Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) #@%& front crank seal !!

[HoleshotHolset]

I bought my '98 knowing it had an oil leak... and had always hoped it wasn't a cracked gearcase.



Well - I took it all apart on Monday and did the seal, and jigged the KDP with my jig. (The KDP wouldn't budge - so I peened the gearcase, jigged it and finished the job. ) Another KDP killed before it let loose...



The crank had a very obvious line on it where the old seal was rubbing... you could just barely feel it with your fingernail... but you could see the line clear as day. At first - the job seemed to be a complete success... now few days later - that #@%& thing is leaking... so I get to take it apart and do the seal all over again - this time with the repair sleeve.



1) What's the part # for the repair sleeve/seal kit? (or is the repair sleeve a part # all by itself?)



2) What temperature did you use when you stuffed the cover in the oven? I tried 250°F for 20 minutes and put the seal in the freezer for the same amount of time... . it was still a complete PITA to install the seal...



Sorry for the rant...



Matt

 

[Partyat33]

Hey Matt,



The seal on the 12V must be different than on the 24 V. Front crank seal is a piece of cake. Does it not come with an install kit ? That would make it a PITA !!!

 

[Joe G.]

The front seal can be a bear if you don't have a shop press. It can be installed so that it does not run in the groove. No need for the sleeve.

 

[w-cummins]

Originally posted by HoleshotHolset

I bought my '98 knowing it had an oil leak... and had always hoped it wasn't a cracked gearcase.





The crank had a very obvious line on it where the old seal was rubbing... you could just barely feel it with your fingernail... but you could see the line clear as day. At first - the job seemed to be a complete success... now few days later - that #@%& thing is leaking... so I get to take it apart and do the seal all over again - this time with the repair sleeve.



1) What's the part # for the repair sleeve/seal kit? (or is the repair sleeve a part # all by itself?)







Matt

I don't have the part number for the spedi sleeve, it came with an installer, but no seal and was rather $$$. . Nothing like the rear one though! I think it was like $40 from Cummins when I purchased it. The rear one was $120!! I did buy them a long time ago so I expect that the price hasn't gone down any



William... ... .

 

[RT66DOC]

When I tabbed the KDP I replaced the front crank seal. I used the kit from TST which had the new seal and installer in it. It was a bit tedious but just a matter of patience rather than skill. I set it a at little different location/depth. I didn't notice any groove in the crank. I could easily see where the old seal was riding but no groove. It's one of those deals where you gotta hold your tongue a certain way while you do it. I admit I kept my fingers crossed for about a week but it's been almosty a year and no leaks. The new seal should come with the installer. I didn't heat the cover/freeze the seal. I'm not positive but I think the instructions said to put red loctite around the outside of the seal.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I did this job in the parking lot of my apartment complex... I'm really surprised that people passing/walking by didn't say: "Hey, man... careful with that thing - crack kills!" :-laf



I don't have a shop press out here - yet.



I set the seal deeper in the gearcase cover than the other one was... hoping to avoid the nice little area where the old one was riding. It's too bad I couldn't just sneak the repair sleeve in there so that I don't have to take the cover off again, buy a new gasket and another seal... .



Matt

 

[Joe G.]

You probably know this but I'll remind everybody. The seal MUST go on dry or it WILL leak. I clean the crank nose with brake cleaner to make sure all traces of oil or whatever is gone. Smear a little blue locktite on the inside of the hole in the gear case cover.

 

[JGheen]

I did KDP a couple of months back and it was a breeze. The only thing I had trouble with was the damn fan shroud and trying to take it out along with the fan.

The seal was kind of a PITA. I had two seals on hand, so that was a relief when I accidentally nicked the teflon part of the seal with the hammer I was using to install it. So I got and installed the other one a little more carefully.

As for putting the cover back on, I don't know how some of you guys installed the cover without that seal stretcher/installer thingy that came with the seal. I was confused at first on how it worked but after I figured it out, it was a breeze to install. You just put the big end on the inside of the cover and press it on over the crank snout and wah-la! It goes right on, no runs no drips, no errors!!Oo. And still ain't leakin'

 

[JoshPeters]

Originally posted by JGheen

no runs no drips, no errors!!Oo. And still ain't leakin'

I love it!Oo. Oo.



Josh

 

[Howard Durand]

Everyone does thing different. I wasn't having much luck getting the cover in place with the seal in so I took the seal back out and put the cover on without it.

I got the seal started then pressed it in with the balancer.

 

[Camara]

I got a question along the same lines. I had a cover bolt fall inbetween the crank and cam and broke the camshaft and spun the gear on the crank. It sheared the key and broke a tooth on the crank gear. Hoe do you get the crank gear off the crank?

 

[DJb]

I was able to pull my fan out with the shroud still in the truck. It was loose tho. Just pulled the fan up and toward the passenger side and it came right out and then pulled the shroud out.