CB350F crankshaft oil seal leak

[exvalvesetdabbler]

On the 400F it is possible to split the engine upside down with the top end in place. I replaced the camchain and primary chain that way some years ago. You might need to drop the cam sprocket off the camshaft though if you want the crankshaft out.  However,  if you only need the clearance to slip on a replacement seal than I would try pushing the cam chain tensioner plunger all the way back and locking it.

I made a similar slip up and got one of the blanking plugs/seal on the end of the gear shaft in wrong which blew out and dumped oil everywhere. There's a piece on the seal that locates in a recess  on the crank case. It's all too easy for it to spin round when you're playing with the gearshafts.

 

Best Regards
Dave

[Trigger]

Thanks guys.

After a lifetime in engineering I put a seal in the wrong way round. "What a Muppet". I'm going to be sat in a window dribbling by the time I'm 60 at this rate.

  you have a long way to go Roy, only start to worry when you start licking the condensation from the inside of the window's 

[paul G]

Thanks guys.

After a lifetime in engineering I put a seal in the wrong way round. "What a Muppet". I'm going to be sat in a window dribbling by the time I'm 60 at this rate.

  you have a long way to go Roy, only start to worry when you start licking the condensation from the inside of the window's 

Is that from experience Trig 

[Trigger]

Thanks guys.

After a lifetime in engineering I put a seal in the wrong way round. "What a Muppet". I'm going to be sat in a window dribbling by the time I'm 60 at this rate.

  you have a long way to go Roy, only start to worry when you start licking the condensation from the inside of the window's 

Is that from experience Trig 

Paul, I have the cleanest workshop window's 

[paul G]

Thanks guys.

After a lifetime in engineering I put a seal in the wrong way round. "What a Muppet". I'm going to be sat in a window dribbling by the time I'm 60 at this rate.

  you have a long way to go Roy, only start to worry when you start licking the condensation from the inside of the window's 

Is that from experience Trig 

Paul, I have the cleanest workshop window's 

[royhall]

Just thought I would keep this thread up to date as loads of you replied. Thanks for that.

The wrong way around seal put a bit of a downer on the project so I had a couple of weeks off from it. During that 2 weeks I got all the necessary seals and gaskets ordered, got 2 seals as I decided to have a go at Orcadians fix first. Its not that I didn't want to take the time to remove the engine, I just didn't want to risk damaging the paint on the engine or the frame.

As the seal was the wrong way round with the steel liner showing I carefully drilled it 2mm and put a screw in to pull out the steel cage. After removing the spring the seal then prised out of the housing very easily.

Gave everything a good clean and oiled the seal and shaft. Unlike Orcadians fix I did not use Hylomar as I was afraid of it blocking the oil drain hole. I started the seal at a slight angle tapping it gently, with my small soft mallet, in a circular motion until all the circumference of the seal had started. Then I knocked it home with a socket just smaller than the OD. It was obvious when the lip of the seal entered the slot as it jumped into place almost on its own.

I then ran the engine on the starter with plugs out. The pressure came up straight away and not a single drop of oil came out. I tried it over and over again and all is good.

So the seal is fixed and it took all of 10 minutes. Remember though that the seal was in the wrong way round. Had the seal been in correctly with it's lip in the slot I doubt I would have got it out that easily.

Project now back on track. Thanks, not just for the advice, but for the words of encouragement. Cheers.

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One seal in place as Honda intended. Hooray!!!

[beemsquar]

Good to hear it Royhall!

I've had a few of those one step forward two step back scenarios myself and know how you feel.

Glad to hear all is good and you can continue on!

[taysidedragon]

Great result Roy. I bet that was a relief.

Lots of time saved there. 

[MikeSB6]

Congratulations Roy,

  there is a tool which looks like a handle with a flat shaft extending from it, with a 'beak' shape on each side which can be used to prise oil seals out, if you have the clearance,

        Cheers, MikeJ

[Orcade-Ian]

That's great to hear Roy,
glad you are back to a good place and that it is again oil leak free like all good Hondas!  Wish I could say the same for this 350 Norton I'm on with at the moment.  I have tried to 'engineer out' as many leaks as possible but the primary chain case is nearly impossible - belt drive and diaphragm clutch and no oil would be an answer.

Ian

[royhall]

A lot of oil leaks on British bikes, I found, was due to porous castings. Even after painting the insides with epoxy paint they still leaked. Guess its part of the character of the bikes.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[MCTID]

Leaks in British bikes.....ha.....I was drooling over a brand new Triumph in the showroom of 'Sports Motorcycles' in Manchester (the shop of the Steve Wynne/ Mike Hailwood Ducati fame) in the 70's.....on the nice shiny floor under the Triumph engine was a small dollop of oil......another chap spotted the oil and said to his mate 'See - they even drip oil when they are empty'. Happy daze.