Camshaft to HP pump oil seal

[Dominic]

The TZD has developed a persistent engine oil drip. I think its coming from the HP drive shaft where it emerges from the camshaft, but by the time its spread itself all over the back and side of the motor, its hard to tell. Replacing said oil seal looks fairly horrific - involving major dismantling - anybody had to do this? Comments and moral support sought.

[citsncycles]

I have changed it as part of the head rebuild on Timex, but have also changed the seal on the cambelt end in situ before, which I think is the worst of the 2 ends.

You'll have to remove the cam cover to access some flats to hold the camshaft with while removing the bolt for the pulley. You may then need a puller to get the pulley off - that's a bit of a lottery as I've had some slide off no trouble and others start to bend the pulley before it moves! You should be able to get something in to pull the seal before fitting the new one. As it's been disturbed I'd check and if necessary replace the cam cover seal too, and while the cover's off you may as well check the valve clearances while you're there.

As for what needs to be removed to get to the cam cover, I'm not sure what's involved I'm afraid as I've never had a TD model.

[BX Bandit]

Remove the intercooler, three 6mm Allen key bolts, a jubilee clip and if they are still fitted three 10mm bolts along the front edge fixed to brackets coming off the head.
You'd be best off removing the cam cap at the pump end to access the oil seal. Be sure to smear some oil round the camshaft journal that the oil seal seals against.

[themildbunch]

i've got to do this job too in the very near future...
back of my TD engine is caked with old oil and fresh oil is collecting around the bottom of the cam belt cover - I'll do both cam seals and the crankshaft seal too

haynes, suggests holding the cam pulley with a custom made holder but I'd use the flat section of the camshaft. I removed both pulleys from a spare head recently and they came off easily with no need of a puller. Probably not a good idea to give the pulley a whack given the brittle nature of the camshaft!

Always a good idea to change all seals when you're in there... I made the mistake of not doing this before we stuck a replacement engine in mine recently.. still no better way of learning a job...

[themildbunch]

...
You'd be best off removing the cam cap at the pump end to access the oil seal. Be sure to smear some oil round the camshaft journal that the oil seal seals against.

are they tricky to pull out or is this to ease insertion / reduce risk of damaging the seal when pushing it in?

[citronut]

i usually place a 16mm spanner on the pulley bolt and give it a tap with an ammer, in the appropriate direction of course, never failed yet,

once the pulley bolt is loose disconnect the drive belt, pull the pulley off, then prize the seal out,

the new seal usually presses back in with finger pressure, smear the working surface of the new seal with oil before fitting,

regards malcolm

[BX Bandit]

...
You'd be best off removing the cam cap at the pump end to access the oil seal. Be sure to smear some oil round the camshaft journal that the oil seal seals against.

are they tricky to pull out or is this to ease insertion / reduce risk of damaging the seal when pushing it in?

They are not tricky no, just two 13mm nuts. But, they are an engineered fit and can be stubborn. The best way I've found is to screw the rocker cover bolt in and give it a tug.
As Malcolm suggests you don't need to have the cam cap off to insert the oil seal but it makes removal of the seal much easier.

Be sure to seat the oil seal properly, if it's on an angle and you tighten the cam cap down you can twist the oil seal (it's metal backed) and then it won't seal!

[Defender110]

i usually place a 16mm spanner on the pulley bolt and give it a tap with an ammer, in the appropriate direction of course, never failed yet,

once the pulley bolt is loose disconnect the drive belt, pull the pulley off, then prize the seal out,

the new seal usually presses back in with finger pressure, smear the working surface of the new seal with oil before fitting,

regards malcolm

As this /\ , nothing normally hard about this job no need to remove the cover, very easy and quick to do so don't be put off. The seal will prize out easily with a seal removal tool or sharp flat blade screwdriver hammered through the middle of the seal and used as a pry bar. Use the old seal in front of the new seal to tap the new seal into place. Very simple job.

[Defender110]

and while the cover's off you may as well check the valve clearances while you're there.

[BX Bandit]

i usually place a 16mm spanner on the pulley bolt and give it a tap with an ammer, in the appropriate direction of course, never failed yet,

once the pulley bolt is loose disconnect the drive belt, pull the pulley off, then prize the seal out,

the new seal usually presses back in with finger pressure, smear the working surface of the new seal with oil before fitting,

regards malcolm

As this /\ , nothing normally hard about this job no need to remove the cover, very easy and quick to do so don't be put off. The seal will prize out easily with a seal removal tool or sharp flat blade screwdriver hammered through the middle of the seal and used as a pry bar. Use the old seal in front of the new seal to tap the new seal into place. Very simple job.

If you do it his way, which no doubt is quicker, just mind where you point the pointy thing that you'll use to prize out the seal, score the end of the camshaft and you may gave a leak for good.

[mat_fenwick]

I've got an old screwdriver which I've heated and softened, to minimise the chances of damaging anything. I also took off any sharp edges, but it's a good point. Personally I've not taken the cam cover off just to change a seal before, but the choice is yours.

[Defender110]

If you do it his way, which no doubt is quicker, just mind where you point the pointy thing that you'll use to prize out the seal, score the end of the camshaft and you may gave a leak for good.

Yes good warning and a good pick seal will be ample for this little seal, I'm used to having to remove much harder to remove bigger HGV seals.

[citronut]

i usually place a 16mm spanner on the pulley bolt and give it a tap with an ammer, in the appropriate direction of course, never failed yet,

once the pulley bolt is loose disconnect the drive belt, pull the pulley off, then prize the seal out,

the new seal usually presses back in with finger pressure, smear the working surface of the new seal with oil before fitting,

regards malcolm

As this /\ , nothing normally hard about this job no need to remove the cover, very easy and quick to do so don't be put off. The seal will prize out easily with a seal removal tool or sharp flat blade screwdriver hammered through the middle of the seal and used as a pry bar. Use the old seal in front of the new seal to tap the new seal into place. Very simple job.

If you do it his way, which no doubt is quicker, just mind where you point the pointy thing that you'll use to prize out the seal, score the end of the camshaft and you may gave a leak for good.

yes yes i fully agree Mr Bandit,
and i should have mentioned this precaution,
you also must be careful not to gauge the alloy head or cam cap inner surface,

the other way to pull the seal out would be drill a very small hole in the old seal face, enough to fit a self taping screw, to which you can them pull the seal out with

regards malcolm

[BX Bandit]

To be honest it never occurred to me to do it without removing the camshaft cover, and I never knew there was a specific tool (oil seal pick) either! So you learn summat new every day! I'm also wary of stating the obvious and trying to teach Granny to suck eggs or patronise other peoples posts/opinions etc but you can just imagine a ruddy big hammer going for gold on a nice sharp screwdriver and doing the damage, and I only know that as it's something I would of done in my less patient fool hardy youth!

[Defender110]

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