Rear oil seal installation

[slipshift]

I have a '97 Ranger XLT, 2.3 engine. Since I had to replace the clutch slave cylinder I thought I'd do the whole thing, new clutch, pilot bearing, flywheel, and rear oil seal. The problem is the new oil seal won't go in. It will almost seat by finger pressure and lightly tapping it will cause the opposite side of the seal to pop up, and almost out of the groove. The groove itself is clear, no obstructions. The new oil seal is the right part # and measures the same as the old one. I'm at my wit's end trying to figure out why it won't seat. Any advice will be welcome.

Jim

 

[Spott]

I'm not familiar with your specific engine, but all the oil seals I've seen expect to be driven straight in with equal pressure applied to all sides simultaneously. This is usually done with a flanged tool that fits over the main shaft and is wide enough to press on the entire seal at once, which is then tapped with a hammer.

Can you approximate such a tool by using a piece of wood or metal with a hole in it to fit the shaft, and a piece of pipe to extend beyond the shaft?

 

[Mazda]

What Spott said. Also

Also you can use a socket the same size as the seal.

 

[Lone-Ranger]

The socket method mentioned above works every time.

 

[slipshift]

Solved!

I don't have any 4" diameter sockets so I tried a different method. I used pieces of wood held down with box end wrenches bolted to the crankshaft with the flywheel bolts. Didn't even have to use all 6, after 3 the lip on the opposite side seated with a few taps. Thanks for your advice, i never heard of this happening before.

Jim

 

[AndyB.]

Kind of pricey for a tool you'd use once:

http://www.shopfreedomracing.com/Cr...eal-Installer-303-178-T82L-6701-A-303-178.htm

 

[slipshift]

It's even kind of pricey for a tool you would use daily. For the small amount of pressure needed to seat the seal it could be made of plastic, like PVC.

Jim

 

[Big Jim M]

I could make one of those in my shop out of scrap metal in about 10 minutes. Would cost nothing. I always have schedule 40 or 80 pipe of different sizes laying around to make stuff like that out of. I've got some 1/2" plate that would make a lifetime one.
The old ROPE seals gave me trouble but the new seals are a piece of cake.
Big Jim

 

[Mazda]

I don't have any 4" diameter sockets so I tried a different method.Jim

Yeah I get that not everyone does. Guess I'm lucky that my grandfather was a boilermaker for 50 years. I have sockets up to 8 and 10 inches. Used to have a 8 foot torque wrench also before it went missing in a move. Still remember seeing my grandfather and 5 other guys hanging from that thing tightening bolts.

You can also use a wheel hub socket and most places will rent you one for a few bucks. Jut FYI for the future.

Bryan

 

[enjr44]

The old ROPE seals gave me trouble but the new seals are a piece of cake.
Big Jim

Man, I hated those things. Especially the two piece ones, I never knew if I got it right until it was back together and running.