Any body willing to let me borrow/rent me their crankshaft seal tool? I’m in HI. Easiest would be someone from California du to shipping cost and time however, not a deal breaker. I can and will pay for shipping. I believe in an honor system. I know it’s a dying thing but I will return the equipment upon completion. Need to stop this darn leak!

 

Hello. I'm in Hawaii now visiting from Chicago. Ha. You don't need the tool. Just take the new seal to Home Depot and buy a PVC fitting/coupling with the correct diameter that allows you to gently tap it in. I think it's 2". I bought this and an end cap that fits into it - which will allows you to tap on it. Note the depth the old seal before removing. Good luck.

 

Suggest you change you user name as the spammers are going to love you. Send me a PM with three options and will see what we can do.

 

I am also looking to borrow/rent the Crank Seal installer in SoCal if anyone has it!

 

I just used a 2" PVC coupling when I recently replaced seal during Timing chain replacement... just used a piece of wood and hammer to gently tap it into the same depth as original. Just checked after about 2K miles - still dry.

 

I am all for this method however I don't know the original depth because the original seal was pushed back into the motor when the PO shredded the drive belt... The strings of rubber from the belt were jammed between the seal and the back of the harmonic balancer.

 

That sucks... did it damage the harmonic balancer? Mine... which was installed by Mini from the previous timing chain replacement... was no more than about 1/8-3/16" deep or so... I assume using the mini tool... Maybe someone will know the spec depth... I do not think it is absolutely critical as there is some margin for error as long as you do not go too deep!!

 

The depth is about 1/8" to no more than 1/4" front the front of the block to the front of the installed seal.

 

 

For those interested or searching for the tool, I took the chance, installed the new seal without the tool and I'm happy to report that I am leak free... well at least from the crankshaft.

In other news, I found the top timing chain guide broken in half sitting in the cylinder head when I went to change the valve cover so a timing chain is in my future.