Help figure out noise near flywheel

[avicenna110]

Hi everyone, I have a squeaking sound near the flywheel and can’t figure out what it is. It almost sounds like belt squeaking. I’m towards the end of my build and it’s the first time I start up the car in 3 years. The sound is there whether in gear or not, and whether clutch is engaged or not. Some info on the car and what I’ve done:

-77 2F engine
-replaced the rear seal, and took out the rear main bearing in the process (and reinstalled)
-new H55f transmission
-all new clutch components and pilot/TO bearing
-drive shaft is currently not installed

What I have ruled out are the following:
- throw out bearing isn’t touching flywheel when clutch is engaged so it’s not making the sound I believe
- I thought it was the pilot bearing, but it makes the sound all the time so I’m not sure.
- I have good oil pressure according to my gauge

I don’t think it’s coming from the transmission either. Maybe the engine? Could I have messed up the bearing, but it really sounds like it’s coming from outside the engine somewhere near the flywheel. When I rev up it goes slightly faster but not much.

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks

 

[charliemeyer007]

My guess throw bearing isn't slipping enough on the shaft.

 

[avicenna110]

I have the inspection cover off and took a video. When clutch is engaged I can see that the throw out bearing isn’t moving, so I thought that means it’s not the TO bearing

 

[avicenna110]

I read someone suggesting spraying lubrication on the rear main seal? Mine is also new OEM.

Post #4 here:

Squealing Rear Main Crank Seal

72 fj40 with stock drivetrain. I replaced some parts a few months ago including clutch kit, rear main crank seal, and oil pan gasket. Everything went back together smoothly, nothing leaks, and everything works as it should. After the engine gets up to operating temp for a few minutes, I get a...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[charliemeyer007]

The outside of the the throw out bearing is different than the inside. With the cover off the sound should be loader.

 

[avicenna110]

Forgive my ignorance, do you mean I have the throw out bearing installed backwards? Could you elaborate a bit more please.
The sound is indeed louder with the bell housing cover off.

 

[charliemeyer007]

The T/O bearing could likely be installed backwards but I think you would have to work at it. Did you look in the book to see how it goes. It has to slide freely on the tranny input shaft - if it binds a little it can squeal

 

[avicenna110]

The T/O bearing could likely be installed backwards but I think you would have to work at it. Did you look in the book to see how it goes. It has to slide freely on the tranny input shaft - if it binds a little it can squeal

I just adjusted the clutch slave cylinder rod nut so that I could move the T/O bearing back and fourth a bit by hand and it moves very easily. I didn’t find the direction in the service manual but checked the parts manual and followed what they had. The transmission side is more flat.

 

[avicenna110]

Forgot to mention, I had also checked the starter, it is not engaged after start up so I had also ruled that out.

But it sounds like either way I have to drop the transmission to root cause it more.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Got any local "car people" friends that could come over and help?

 

[avicenna110]

Got any local "car people" friends that could come over and help?

Unfortunately no, but I have a cherry picker and have dropped the transmission on my 45 with it before. Just time consuming, and a bummer since I’m so close to finally driving it.

 

[77mustard40]

Is it sounding off full time or just as part of the clutch travel? My new clutch components definitely put off a whirring sound for a couple of months before settling down.

 

[avicenna110]

Is it sounding off full time or just as part of the clutch travel? My new clutch components definitely put off a whirring sound for a couple of months before settling down.

It does it full time, right after the engine starts. Pressing the clutch or putting transmission in gear doesn’t change it.

 

[Living in the Past]

I had a rear seal in the crank make noise years ago. This was after having the crank out for a spun bearing. I used a spray bottle with water. Sprayed it into the timing mark opening in bellhousing with the engine running. The sound stopped while spraying. Rwar.seal wis spinning. Pulled the transmission and transfer case. Then the pressure plate/flywheel and seated the rear seal again. That solved the problem.

 

[avicenna110]

I had a rear seal in the crank make noise years ago. This was after having the crank out for a spun bearing. I used a spray bottle with water. Sprayed it into the timing mark opening in bellhousing with the engine running. The sound stopped while spraying. Rwar.seal wis spinning. Pulled the transmission and transfer case. Then the pressure plate/flywheel and seated the rear seal again. That solved the problem.

I see, I hadn’t considered the seal spinning, it’s very much possible in my case as well. I’ll spray it and see how it does. Thanks!

 

[peesalot]

what tcase is behind the h55 ?

 

[avicenna110]

what tcase is behind the h55 ?

I have a new split case Tcase 36110-6E181

 

[peesalot]

It has the 5th gear oiler ? looks as though from pics, did that get blocked with gasket/silicone ?

 

[avicenna110]

It has the 5th gear oiler ? looks as though from pics, did that get blocked with gasket/silicone ?

I don’t think I had posted any pics so far. Is the 5th gear oiler an internal part of the transmission? I’m not familiar with it. Should I have done something special while installing it? The transmission +tcase were build by Georg so I have high confidence in them.

 

[avicenna110]

I had a rear seal in the crank make noise years ago. This was after having the crank out for a spun bearing. I used a spray bottle with water. Sprayed it into the timing mark opening in bellhousing with the engine running. The sound stopped while spraying. Rwar.seal wis spinning. Pulled the transmission and transfer case. Then the pressure plate/flywheel and seated the rear seal again. That solved the problem.

I tried spraying water and it changed how it sounds, although it didn’t completely go away. When it warmed up water didn’t make a different though. As a last resort I spray white lithium grease in there as well when engine was off, on the engine side not the clutch side and the noise was still there. It’s not as loud as before but I couldn’t be certain.

To my surprise I can turn the flywheel by hand, with a lot of force of course (should I be able to?), and I can hear a bit of squeaking at some point of the rotation, and pretty repeatable. So I can see that at idle rpm it would be more frequent.

Anyway the transmission is coming down so I can see the seal better. This is how it was when I put it in:

Ps: unrelated, I had checked compression before the first start, with the engine cold and it was ~125 across all cylinders, so I was hoping it would go up when the engine is warm and I adjust the intake/exhaust valves.