Seal puller question

[scottm]

My neighbor asked me to help him change his timing belt, I suggested we do the crank and cam seals while in there. He wants to buy a seal puller for the job, but I've never used one. I assume he'll have the pickaxe type puller. Looking online, I only see it used when the shaft is not through the seal, the point is just stuck through the open center of the seal then pry it out.

Any hints on using this puller with the shafts still in place? I assume I can just punch it through the seal face and pry? Seems like that's why it's got pointy teeth on it...? I'll protect the shaft with something if I try this.

I've always used a woodscrew and screw puller, or hammer and drift punch, never had much trouble with those.

 

[Chester]

that's the only way I've ever done it too. My seal puller has a variety of waste fasteners for long reach, and if there's an issue of a delicate shaft, you can always run 2 or 3 screws and pry against an outside block. it's the ONLY way to pull seals that are deep in a cavity,

 

[PAToyota]

I've only used the pickax type for seals where the center shaft comes out. For ones like your picture, a screw and a crowbar (as you show) has been my weapon of choice.

 

[KLF]

I've only used the pickax type for seals where the center shaft comes out. For ones like your picture, a screw and a crowbar (as you show) has been my weapon of choice.

X2...

Although, if there's no shaft in the way, I actually really like my MAC S120.

 

[scottm]

Thanks guys, he forgot to buy it, and only bought one cam seal, then decided just to leave the seals alone.

Muffin tin for parts, hmmm... I've been using a Craftsman toolbox drawer insert, works great, but getting pretty old and tattered and sometimes I run out of places to put stuff.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Muffin tins are great, they also help sequence the parts at each assembly stem. Helps avoid the "Oh $hit I forgot to put these screws in two steps ago!" situations. If it's a long term project small food storage bags work well, just number them and put them in a bigger bag. I did this when I tore my FJ40 apart in a two year long build. Re assembly involved finding the big bag marked "Transmission cover" "Fuel tank","Front seats", etc.

 

[KLF]

I have several old muffin tins in the garage for complex teardown projects, stuff like timing belts or head gaskets. But for long term projects like my truck restore I like egg cartons. I write on the lid where each part is for, I keep parts organized by category that way. One carton for brakes, one for misc body hardware, several for engine, etc. I have at least 8 cartons stacked on my bench right now.