Crank Shaft Seal

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rocketman
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Rocketman

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Hi Guys I made a mistake with my first post, I called it a Cam Shaft Seal. "Silly Git".
I want to know how big a job it is to change the Front Crank Shaft Seal
behind the Alternator pully?
Any info would be appreciated
 
Which bike?

If it's an 1100 then the exhausts will have to be pulled to get access to the front crankcase cover. The alternator will have to be pulled back but not removed. The alternator drive belt needs removed also the drive pulley and ignition triggers. The first step is not needed (I think) for the 1150s.

Removing the cover also requires moving the front suspension A frame forward. Not necessary (I think) on 1150s.

It may be possible to remove the seal without removing the cover. It would certainly save a fair bit of work. Maybe Steptoe would care to comment on this?

Whatever, when replacing the seal, make sure that you use a mandril to place it over the crankshaft in a concave position (with the inner lips pointing in towards the engine) and not in a convex position. If you do, it will continue to leak, new seal or not.

Guess how I know!:o
 
It may be possible to remove the seal without removing the cover. It would certainly save a fair bit of work. Maybe Steptoe would care to comment on this?



Would be interested to know this as well as my mates 1150 has developed signs of oil coming from between the front cover and engine block about half way up the casing. Any info muchly appreciated ...:)
 
Would be interested to know this as well as my mates 1150 has developed signs of oil coming from between the front cover and engine block about half way up the casing. Any info muchly appreciated ...:)

It's not a bearing then, it's a cover seal(?)

I also have a VERY small leak from the cover - I just retigthened all the cover bolts in cris-cross pattern, and mine stopped. If not help, then probably have to replace the whole seal.
 
Take a photo and show it !

Not Takin the Pish but what you see and describe could mean different things to different folks

A Photo however tells All unless you're pshyic lot Wot St. Eptoe is reputed till be :aidan
 
I did this (95 R1100GS), you need one special tool, availible from any auto supply store for around £3 or so- a seal puller. Looks kind of like a thin small pick-axe.

You do NOT need to- remove the exhaust, alternator, front suspension bits.

1. Remove alternator cover
2. Loose alternator bolts (3 of them)
3. Remove alternator belt
4. Remove alternator pully. If it's stuck, but a breaker bar on it, and brace it against the A-arm thingie, and then put the bike in 5th gear. With some help from some mates, push it forward, that will turn the bolt in the right direction with load of torque. You might have to have somebody sit on the bike while pushing.
5. Mark with a knife or chalk, or pen, anything that won't rub off the alightment of your hall sensor, on both the bike and the sensor.
6. Remove hall sensor, three or four tiny hex head screws if memory serves. Put a shop cloth around the sensor, be careful not to abuse it, jostle it, muck about with it. It's sensitive.
7. Take your seal puller, and a small rubber mallet, and gently tap it into the bottom of the crank seal- you want to have the puller parallel to the ground. If you try for the sides or the top of the crank, you won't have enough space to pull properly.
8. Once the seal puller is digging into the seal nicely, pull it out. Try not to scratch the crank or the casing.
9. Take your new seal, and use your thumbs to bend the brown stiff part in, slowly working your way around and around. You need to preform it so that it will slip onto the crank and past the little bump. Patience on this. Most shops rush this part, and then you get a leaky crank seal.
10. Once nicely formed, it should slip on fairly easily, with only a turning to get past the bump bit. Push it in about half way.

THE BEST PART.

11. You don't need any nancy tool for this. Unscrew the rear shock adjuster cap. It's the perfect size to push the seal in a uniform manner. Use the mallet and the cap to very gently and slowly tap the new seal into place. Don't rush this either, make the seal flush with the case.
12. Reassemble. Make sure the hall sensor is perfectly lined up, and that you lever the alternator pully up for enough tension on the belt. I used pliers to clinch the belt, which allowed for the leverage to tighten the alternator bolt.

Sounds like a lot, but with a little patience, a beer or two and some mates, not hard, and should only cost a few quid. The 'book' way costs £100s of pounds at the dealership as they take everything apart. If you move slowly, this should only take about 1-2 hours. With fag and beer breaks.

Email me if you have questions, sorry I don't have pics, my mates can't hold a camera to save their life, and I can't shoot while wrenching, 'cause I'm not that smnart or clever.
 
I4. Remove alternator pully. If it's stuck, but a breaker bar on it, and brace it against the A-arm thingie, and then put the bike in 5th gear. With some help from some mates, push it forward, that will turn the bolt in the right direction with load of torque. You might have to have somebody sit on the bike while pushing.
.


Or, hold the breaker bar, give the starter button a quick stab, and the nut is undone.
The breaker bar won't come out of your hand, it won't dislocate your shoulder, there is no pressure on it. :thumb

I
6. Remove hall sensor, three or four tiny hex head screws if memory serves. .

Three.


I
9. Take your new seal, and use your thumbs to bend the brown stiff part in, slowly working your way around and around. You need to preform it so that it will slip onto the crank and past the little bump. Patience on this. Most shops rush this part, and then you get a leaky crank seal.
.

use a strip of coke can, roll it around the inside of the seal, push the strip of can over the crank, slide the seal into place.
 
use a strip of coke can, roll it around the inside of the seal, push the strip of can over the crank, slide the seal into place.


OH, yeah, there's an easier way if you just cut a coke can and use to expand that bad boy.

I feel so outdone.
 
Thanks a Mil lads I'm doing the job the week after next, sounds a bit easier than
I thought. I'll let you all know how I get on. Cheers
 
use a strip of coke can, roll it around the inside of the seal, push the strip of can over the crank, slide the seal into place.

Brilliant:blast
Got it wrong twice before reading above, dissecting a coke can and slipping it on:D Instant no leak.
AND the wise guys at BMW said you gotta take the cover off to replace the seal. As I found out from you guys, you don't do you?
AND, the rear suspension adjuster cap is the perfect fit to tap that nasty little PTFE sucker home.

Thanks guys, I'm impressed with the amount of knowledge.
 
Ditto

And thanks from me too! I can now fix the mess I made when I did this the first time!
 
Thanks guys, I'm impressed with the amount of knowledge.

+1 :thumb

The coke can strip bit sounds particularly interesting. I've just re-assembled a gearbox, during which (unless I'm missing something) you have to put a shaft through a seal, rather than the seal on to the shaft. I've got another one to do soon, think I'll give a variation on the coke can thing a try: Fit seal to casing, shape lip, curl coke can strip inside seal, like a bush, fit shaft through 'bush'*, remove strip from rear of gearbox. Might work, I'll let you know...

Cheers,

Dave.

*Don't bother - I've all ready thought of the innuendo available here...:D:D
 
Got the seal done

Hey Guys thanks for all the help. I bought the seal from motorworks
and made a complete F*#K of putting it on. That little brown lip!!!
I went to a local engineer supply company and they gave me a high temperature seal which slipped on with no faffing about and all is dry
still. Thanks again!
 


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