clutch oil seal problems
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi,

I have troubles with my clutch oil seal at the moment. The primary gear is axial and radial endfloat is at the low limits but I still had a leaking seal after only 100miles. The only thing I changed from last year is a sintered clutch plate and the seal of course. (2x now)
I am using the std orange seal (13H2934) at the moment. Has anyone experience with the "MSC high performance" 13H2934MS or the 92up LUF100005 seal. Is one better than the other?

Did anyone have troubles with entering oil in the clutch cover not coming from the seal? Bolt? crack?

The big prob is when I was dismantling the clutch everthing was full of oil mist already; the seal looked always ok.

Any recommendations welcome!
Harry

Bimmer Twinky headed and turboed A-Series:
http://www.minifreunde.at/harry/projects.htm

this may help you??

http://www.minispares.com/Article.aspx?aid=348

sounds like the "luf" one is the one to go for.

I've used the black one for the past few years. And taking the engine apart this year - not even the slightest sign of leakage.

I'd always had a little 'weeping' with the oragne one - but this is better in my limited experience.

That said - I ALWAYS managed more than 100 miles on the orange ones.... I think you need to look deeper - maybe carefully inspect the seal surface on the primary gear?

The last few years my seals started to leak after about 4-5000km after assembly. This was at the end of the season so I didn't care too much about that, because over winter i am always refurbishing my engine. I am also using the full floating bush which is at its end at the end of the season so I didn't wonder myself too much.
Anyone else having good experience with the black seal? Anyone ever tried to reduce the lenght of the spring; so increasing the lip pressure?

Bimmer Twinky headed and turboed A-Series:
http://www.minifreunde.at/harry/projects.htm

i wonder though with the increased lip pressure you may get increased wear or even heat to an extent it will damage the seal?

Way I see it; seals are designed by peeps who's job it is to design seals.

I doubt i know more than them - or am in a position to make a guess!

I suspect you're looking for a 'band aid' to solve the issue. Maybe you need to look at the root cause?

Breathers?
Surface finish on the primary gear?
Oil spray?
Enviromental Contamination (do you run the red plastic dust-sheild for example?)
Etc.

the black one have been known for problems with the spring. It has dropped of the lip in the seal sometimes. I think the best bet is to try to get a steel backed one from GACO or similar....

I know that some people are increasing the spring pressure - of course this will reduce its life but be honest - how many miles do these seals life in our engines?!

Bimmer Twinky headed and turboed A-Series:
http://www.minifreunde.at/harry/projects.htm

ive used the black one and woirks well.

but with all these seals make sure you are carefull when installing the sligthest nick will cause them to leak or excessive breathing will cause to oil leakage.

always looking for them bigger bunches of bannanas

ive used the black seal from the injection minis for years and never had a problem. well the only problem was getting one from Rover, the guy kept saying they only use the orange one, then he found it on the computer and found its about 4 times the price.

i can only assume the local dealer only ever fits the orange one cos its cheap!

my thoughts are the same as dave on this one harry.

the black seals available frome minispares are excellent.

do you run the dust cover as well near the seal ?

i suspect its the breather!

Hi benross,

yes I run the dust cover; will try the black stuff!
Anyone expierence about the comparison between the Gaco seal and the black stuff??

Bimmer Twinky headed and turboed A-Series:
http://www.minifreunde.at/harry/projects.htm

I supply the black seal with all the gearbox/transfer case jobs I do.. not had any comeback on them (touch wood!)

TTFN,
Dave

also you have to make sure the oil release holes in the primary gear are not blocked and the outer bush isnt worn as this will spill oil into the clutch as well.

always looking for them bigger bunches of bannanas

Mounted the black seal today; did about 100km today - problems seems to be solved; maybe I had a bad luck with 2 orange "monday morning" seals?!

Bimmer Twinky headed and turboed A-Series:
http://www.minifreunde.at/harry/projects.htm

Sorry to drag up an old post, but my black seal did not even make it off the drive.

After about 1/2 hour running at high revs to bed in cam, I've got a major oil leak from the clutch case.

It was probably due to the 90psi oil pressure I had, but I've now got it down to 60psi, but the problem persists.

Just pulled the flywheel off ("just" - who am I kidding) and it seems to be the oil seal. Difficult to tell with new clean oil.

I suspected my araldited idler gear bearing removal holes but they are OK.

I dont think it has come down the primary gear as the plate is spotless. There were some steaks down the back of the flywheel (verto) so it must be the seal.

I've ordered the GACO one from MS to give that a try.

Is there an easy way to get the seal out without a special tool?

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Oil pressure doesn't affect the life of this seal one bit. I guess most of the failures on said seal is incorrect fitment. Not saying you did, but generally.

To get the seal out drill two little holes 180deg apart, then screw in a small self tapper which can then be pulled with a pair of pliers to remove the seal........


Just make sure you blow any debris out with the air line afterwards.

Tried that Tom, but with the engine in the car, I can't get a drill in.

I did try, but only managed to damage the primary gear when the drill jumped. Luckily, I haven't damaged the seal face where the seal actually runs.

I've got it out anyhow. I made up a puller from some odds and ends.

I'm giving up now for the day before I damage anything else. The new oil seal should be here tomorrow.

As Vegard said, I probably fitted the seal wrong. I do remember struggling to keep it square. There is a definate kink in the seal lip.

Does anyone use the Minispares tool for putting the seal in?

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Ah right yes of course. I have an angle-drill that runs off the air line that is handy for this kind of thing.

I've always put the seals in by hand, just use plenty of insulation tape on the primary gear lip then peel it off afterwards. Sometimes a small "pick" can be useful to tease the seal lips into the right place.

Edited by Tom Fenton on 31st Aug, 2006.

i've got the proper tool and to be honest for the price it makes things very easy and i've never had any issues with leakage.

Only takes one seal to be put in dodgy and scrap a clutch plate off and the tool has paid for itself.

i had a problem with 2 minispares crank seals leaking just before avon, they were orange ones. in the end i went to m&ms and got a cheap nasty looking one it cured my leak, odd.

i fit the seal to the primary gear then fit the pair together.

no longer a series, but still 1.3 turbo.

I went to minispares this afternoon and bought the tool.

We'll fit the new seal tomorrow and keep our fingers crossed.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."