Crank rear oil seal removal - help please

[ducatiparts.110mb]

1150GS 05
Bike stripped completely to change the crank rear oil seals. Got the outer one out with no problems, can't get the inner one out - anyone done it and got a few words of wisdom please?

The manual shows a slide hammer type tool with a screw on the end of it that goes into the seal to grip it. I've tried drilling the seal and putting a self tapping screw in and then pulling on the screw with a pair of pliers but the screw just pulls out. Its too far in to stick a screwdriver through it and lever it out.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[jmh]

Hi, try a smaller hole with slightly larger self tapper, put two in, one each side an pull them out bit at a time. took me a few attempts but it came out in the end! Be sure to form the new seals before u fit them, can do this by gently stretching them with your fingers. I used a strip of thin plastic to help ease them over the lip when fitting, just take your time! Good luck.

 

[monkeyboy]

Ditto the small hole with a self tapper in trick. I usually heat a small drill bit and melt the hole

 

[ducatiparts.110mb]

Is it normal to put the screw through the rubber part of the seal, nearest the crankshaft ( your comment about melting the hole makes me think so) or through the metal part of the seal nearest to the crankcase?

I've been trying to get the screw into the metal part as its stronger, but that means you must use a tiny screw or it falls into the rubber part.

Either way there's no way my seal is budging.

I've also bent a screwdriver into a hook and have put that into a hole in the seal so that I can pull it out - I've pulled so hard that the hook has broken off inside what's left of the seal and still the damn thing wont move.

I tried gentle heat - that didn't work either.

The problem I have now is that I've pretty much destroyed 1/2 of the circumference of the seal and it still isn't budging. I only have a limited number of tries left as every time the screw pulls out it leaves a hole that I cant reuse. I'm almost at the point of either getting the dremel out to grind the seal out and risking damaging the crankcase surface or alternatively splitting the engine cases which I really don't want to start (especially if someone can come up with the winning solution).

 

[monkeyboy]

Is it normal to put the screw through the rubber part of the seal, nearest the crankshaft ( your comment about melting the hole makes me think so) or through the metal part of the seal nearest to the crankcase?

I've been trying to get the screw into the metal part as its stronger, but that means you must use a tiny screw or it falls into the rubber part.

Either way there's no way my seal is budging.

I've also bent a screwdriver into a hook and have put that into a hole in the seal so that I can pull it out - I've pulled so hard that the hook has broken off inside what's left of the seal and still the damn thing wont move.

I tried gentle heat - that didn't work either.

The problem I have now is that I've pretty much destroyed 1/2 of the circumference of the seal and it still isn't budging. I only have a limited number of tries left as every time the screw pulls out it leaves a hole that I cant reuse. I'm almost at the point of either getting the dremel out to grind the seal out and risking damaging the crankcase surface or alternatively splitting the engine cases which I really don't want to start (especially if someone can come up with the winning solution).

I've done drill and melt - I just don't like drilling into the seal in case my ham fistedness damages something the other side. The self tappers I use are a LOT fatter than the pilot hole - they're stubby little fat ones. That's the only potentially different thing I can think of. Can you get 2 diametrically opposed screws in and pull them simultaneously? It's in a bas'tard of a position though really unless you've got the frame off and can just sit comfortably behind it.

I certainly wouldn't get the dremmel out. Have you got anything plastic and sharp that you could tap into the edge of the seal, or something like a tiny camera/glasses screwdriver, just to release the seal from the outer edge?

 

[ducatiparts.110mb]

Got it out in the end with the dremel. I managed to cut through the metal reinforcing ring but stop before I went through th erubber outer, so no damage to the cases.

phew.

 

[monkeyboy]

Got it out in the end with the dremel. I managed to cut through the metal reinforcing ring but stop before I went through th erubber outer, so no damage to the cases.

phew.

Excellent - you've got a steady hand then