rear main seal

[gimpyrobb]

So since my trip to N.C. I have had oil dripping from the hole at the bottom of the bell housing. The clutch started slipping on the way home from Findlay. I thought it was motor oil as it appeared the motor oil level was getting lower(need to check it tomorrow). I pulled the trans today and inspected everything. It really smells like gear oil with the trans off. When I pulled the flywheel, it looks in pretty good condition. Since I have never trouble shot a rear main seal before, wouldn't there be some tell tale spots on/near the seal? I think it looks pretty good. Is this something that you will not be able to tell by looking at it(yes I read all the posts I could on rear mains)? I have talked it over with some members and have decided to look over the vent in the trans and some of the bolts that thread from the bell to the trans housing as some pass right through and gear oil "could" seep in those spots. I don't plan to put it together till Thursday or Friday, so all in put is welcome. I have not yet looked at the tag on the motor to see if it has been rebuilt recently and I will get picks of the "coating" that has gathered on the flywheel and pressure plate. Here are some pics that I got with darkness falling.

 

[WillWagner]

Well, in my past experiences, thankfully the rear seal on my deuce has not sprung a leak, but, I deal with this kinda crap on a daily basis. If a rear seal is leaking, there is USUALLY a bunch of oil behind the flywheel ...just like the pic you posted, but not too much in the clutch area. If it is a leak from the trans input shaft, there is almost never oil behind the flywheel and the oil has soaked the clutch and pressure plate area. However, snicer it is apart, i'd do the rear main anyway...it would suck to button it up and find out tomorrow that the rear main was indeed leaking. While you're at it, i'd do the seal carrier gasket too. Again, it would suck to do a rear seal only to have to take it apart again and have to do a seal AND the carrier again.

 

[gimpyrobb]

"seal carrier gasket "? You got me on that one. Is that for the trans or motor? Most of the mess is on the front. I will get pics of that stuff tomorrow.

 

[WillWagner]

See the 6 bolts around the seal? Those hold the carrier...the part that holds the seal... to the block. Over time, the gasket turns back into the tree it was originally made from...I think it is oak or yellow pine...and stops sealing from the use of the engine, heat and shrinkage. The bolts have a tendency to loosen up because the gasket shrinks and turns hard. It is a $2.00 part that takes 8 hours to get to...well, depends on who is doing the job

 

[tm america]

take a pic of the top of the trans adapter-back of the motor. looks like the leak is coming from something above the rear main and the rear main housing .mine started doing the same thing when i went to get my expandable two weeks ago .i had just changed the oil the day before and i think i over filled it .cuz it only leaked till the oil level came down to the correct level.but i'm gonna pull it apart and reseal it all just to be safebut i want to make sure i have all my parts before i pull it apart

 

[gimpyrobb]

Nobody else has experiance? I will be getting more pics later today.

 

[Recovry4x4]

I would follow Will's advice and do the rear main and carrier gasket for sure. Clean out that tranny vent as well.

 

[Stretch44875]

Dude.. it's motor oil... how dare you doubt me!

Seals can look good and still leak.

Speaking of which, is the rear axle still leaking?

 

[martinsaunders06]

when i bought mine the clutch slipped and also dripped oil from bell housing, when i took it apart the crank seal looked ok but was actually spinning in the housing for it so i fitted new seal and lock tighted in and been ok last 8 years.Dont think gearbox input shaft has a seal think it has a reverse helical coil in side of release bearing sleeve

 

[WillWagner]

Dont think gearbox input shaft has a seal think it has a reverse helical coil in side of release bearing sleeve

Correct.
I think there is also an expandable plug behind the flywheel housing that is the seal for the cam bore. It can leak too. Don't chance it, you're there, just do all of it so you won't have to worry about it. Just thought of something else. If the truck has been sitting, make sure those pesky wasps haven't invaded the blow by tube. They are running rampant out this way right now and their little nests and bad attitudes are everywhere.

 

[Jakob]

Rob, I'm still going through this with mine. While you have the tranny down, pull the seal housing. Make sure it has the updated 3 drain holes, also inspect the journal on the crank to make sure it's not grooved. My crank has a nasty groove in it and even a new seal would leak.

WillWagner had it right; if it was gear oil, it'd be all over the pressure plate. If it's motor oil it'll be all over the engine side of the flywheel and slung all inside the bellhousing.

 

[gimpyrobb]

I think it was gear oil, it was mostly in front of the flywheel. I replaced the rear main anyway as I had a new one here. I gotta shower, will post more pics in a bit, I will include the bloody photos too.

 

[vinny-socom1]

Chris, I had the same issue with my old duce, looked like a leak at the rear main. I pulled it apart, seal looked like new??? I changed it anyway and no more leaks. I think you doing the right thing, change it while you can get to it.

Vinny

 

[gimpyrobb]

More pics. I pulled the fill plug out of the trans and couldn't reach gear oil unless I stuck my pinky in there. I think my problem was gear oil. I included some more pics of the rear main removal and installation since I couldn't find many in my research prior to this job.

 

[gimpyrobb]

some more. While working above your head, don't drop a wrench and catch the open end with your nose.

 

[tm america]

wow sorry about the nose.ok looking at the pics i would say the trans is deffinatly leaking rear seal probably wasnt but the housing looked wet and it was wet above the housing which is probably from the gear oil being slung from the trans leaking.fluids dont run up hill sosince the back of the flywheel looks pretty dry it would have to be coming from the trans unless the head gasket or something up high is running down

 

[tm america]

in the pic of the trans you can see the fluid sitting in the front bearing retainer near the splines on the input shaft and it is running out the weep hole on the front bearing retainer .not sure if there is a seal in the retainer or if it just has a slinger like a t-10 if its a seal it should be replaced .if its a slinger you may need to change the slinger,bearing retainer ,and front bearing .cuz the only way the slinger will make contact is if the bearing is bad and it ussually wears out the slinger and the retainer .sometimes you can shim the slinger out with a washer to make the clearance right. but the bearing will still need changed.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Crap! That whole big reply just disapeared! Anyway, no other leaks. I am going to rtv the bolts through the bell and I cleaned the snot out of the breather. I will be picking up a busted trans tomorrow. I need to pull the input shaft to use as a clutch alignment tool. Anyone got any hints so I don't bust anything more? I'd like to rebuild this busted one at a later date.

 

[grounded]

Crap! That whole big reply just disapeared!

think thats happening alot with you tonight. i keep getting a blank pm. with nothing there. LOL

sorry i dont got a alignment tool for ya to use. I got to get one of them soon though

 

[tm america]

thanks for all the pics i'm gonna be doing mine this weekend.i just have to get a couple more parts.