Rear Main Nightmare

[cb97angler]

Replacing clutch after catastrophic failure while wheeling and figured I would do rear main as well. I ordered one from Cruiser Corps. I cannot get it to go in. I loosened the bearing cup bolts but that didn't open up any space, I tries loosening first 3 oil pan bolts. I have permtex black on outside of seal and a light oil cost on inside as George recommends.... I meant I am wailing on it as hard as I can from within bellhousing and it will not seat. I now have a small tear in it so have to try and source another ans was hoping to leave for the hammers on Tuesday. Any hints. I am thinking maybe heat the new one up if I can source one. I'm not a newbie, I've torn this rig apart before and I am beyond frustrated. Thanks for any help. 06/1974 F.5 but has a 4 speed flywheel not 3 speed flywheel as it should have been spec'd

 

[cb97angler]

Come on Pighead I see u looked at this, what the F is going on. I am frustrated beyond belief. I had the spring pop off the engine facing side so I packed it with assemblee goo to keep that from coming out. I am blown away by this. I would have gotten oem but no dealers in 50 mile radius had one they could get for 8 days and one quoted me $131 for a rear main seal.

 

[Pighead]

Come on Pighead

I didn't really have anything useful to contribute. I don't think I've ever had this problem myself. All mine have slid in fairly easily with gentle fingertip manipulation and a light tap-tap-tapping around and around.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Perhaps there are some burrs (damage from previous install/removal) or dried scum oil in the recess making placement a PIA. Steel wool wet with brake clean - rub the recess area feeling for snags while removing the oil scum or old sealant someone put there. Then a rag to remove the crap and providee a final clean.

On a hard surface roll your new seal around leaning on a 30 degree angle to the front edge of the seal flange to provide a little taper action for seating. Or you might run a de-burring tool like a Noga lightly and carefully on both the engine and seal flange.

https://www.amazon.com/Noga-Heavy-Duty-Deburr-blades/dp/B001O5YSXU

Myself - its way to hard to see and work in the small space with the engine in and the tranny slid back. When I put in my speedy sleeve and new seal later this spring the engine will be on the ground. I pull engine/tranny/transfer as 1 unit and it goes back in the same way

 

[White Stripe]

Replacing clutch after catastrophic failure while wheeling and figured I would do rear main as well. I ordered one from Cruiser Corps. I cannot get it to go in. I loosened the bearing cup bolts but that didn't open up any space, I tries loosening first 3 oil pan bolts. I have permtex black on outside of seal and a light oil cost on inside as George recommends.... I meant I am wailing on it as hard as I can from within bellhousing and it will not seat. I now have a small tear in it so have to try and source another ans was hoping to leave for the hammers on Tuesday. Any hints. I am thinking maybe heat the new one up if I can source one. I'm not a newbie, I've torn this rig apart before and I am beyond frustrated. Thanks for any help. 06/1974 F.5 but has a 4 speed flywheel not 3 speed flywheel as it should have been spec'd

Measure the ID and OD of the new one to verify size. Without pics it's hard to say what your doing wrong.

 

[cb97angler]

Thanks for the replies. I will try the 30 degree angle roll, I really like that idea, I had already buffed the surfaces, I cleaned the hell out of them to a shine so not nicks, burrs, or leftover crap. Thanks again. On to the next headache.