1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

Rear main seal removal and replacement

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by sparky, Sep 11, 2008.

Page 2 of 4
  1. Sep 13, 2008
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    9,221
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    Celebration is on hold. Beer will be consumed anyhow.

    Main bearing #3 has a groove and galling. Haven't managed to work #2 or #1 off yet to see. Just stopped at #3...

    Decision time...
     
    sparky, Sep 13, 2008
    #21
  2. Sep 13, 2008
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
    Messages:
    4,275
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    :(
     
    w3srl, Sep 13, 2008
    #22
  3. Sep 13, 2008
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    9,221
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    On the bright side the crank looks fine so far. I can run my fingernail over it and it's smooth.
     
    sparky, Sep 13, 2008
    #23
  4. Sep 13, 2008
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    4,350
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    Crap

    I need help on my Jeep Lexi...........(wiggles eyebrows)
     
    blevisay, Sep 13, 2008
    #24
  5. Sep 14, 2008
    BlueFlu

    BlueFlu past owner of some ecj5's

    Hermitage, TN
    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2004
    Messages:
    1,552
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    Dern hope it's just the one bearing and not the crank under the other caps.
    Might as well pull the rod bearings too.
    Ya know this how the long winter rebuilds start. ;)
     
    BlueFlu, Sep 14, 2008
    #25
  6. Sep 14, 2008
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    9,221
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    I'm not doing any rebuild myself.

    If I do have this overhauled I'm paying to have it done. No garage, gravel drive, and I'm already started on writing my dissertation. Graduation (and moving) is next May... Time is not an option.
     
    sparky, Sep 14, 2008
    #26
  7. Sep 14, 2008
    BlueFlu

    BlueFlu past owner of some ecj5's

    Hermitage, TN
    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2004
    Messages:
    1,552
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    I hear ya. Hope it doesn't come to that.
    Just ribbin ya a tad.
     
    BlueFlu, Sep 14, 2008
    #27
  8. Sep 14, 2008
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    9,221
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    I don't see that I have many options other than an overhaul. I'm not comfortable just putting it back together and running it with a bearing that's scored and pitted.
     
    sparky, Sep 14, 2008
    #28
  9. Sep 14, 2008
    BlueFlu

    BlueFlu past owner of some ecj5's

    Hermitage, TN
    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2004
    Messages:
    1,552
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    Time for a GNX engine swap? :D
     
    BlueFlu, Sep 14, 2008
    #29
  10. Sep 14, 2008
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    8,360
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    It always happens..
     
    Patrick, Sep 14, 2008
    #30
  11. Sep 14, 2008
    BlueFlu

    BlueFlu past owner of some ecj5's

    Hermitage, TN
    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2004
    Messages:
    1,552
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    Doesn't it normally start with a simple tune up or puilling the heater though?
     
    BlueFlu, Sep 14, 2008
    #31
  12. Sep 14, 2008
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    9,221
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    :shrug: I'd rather find out this way than the other possible way... :p
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2008
    sparky, Sep 14, 2008
    #32
  13. Sep 14, 2008
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    4,350
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    Can you get it here?
     
    blevisay, Sep 14, 2008
    #33
  14. Sep 14, 2008
    cj5 buggy

    cj5 buggy Member

    hardeeville, SC
    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2003
    Messages:
    403
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    that's no fun to hear Sparky, good luck on the overhaul...
     
    cj5 buggy, Sep 14, 2008
    #34
  15. Sep 14, 2008
    bkd

    bkd Moderator Supreme Staff Member 2022 Sponsor

    K-Town Tenn.
    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2007
    Messages:
    3,294
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    sorry to hear it Adam, but your quote is right on.....cheaper now then after everything gets chewed up more......Jim S.
     
    bkd, Sep 14, 2008
    #35
  16. Sep 14, 2008
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    9,221
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    Oh probably. I dunno.

    Still mulling over options.

    Jerry's idea sounds good. :D
     
    sparky, Sep 14, 2008
    #36
  17. Sep 14, 2008
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    4,350
    blevisay, Sep 14, 2008
    #37
  18. Sep 14, 2008
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    9,221
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    That'll work. R)
     
    sparky, Sep 14, 2008
    #38
  19. Sep 14, 2008
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    Maybe it would be good to post up pictures of the bearings. A single groove (to me) indicates a foreign object in the oil, which necessarily will settle or be filtered out. Any junk in the bottom of the oil pan?

    Some main bearings (all?) can be replaced with the crank in place. There's a tool that you insert into the oil passage which allows you to roll the old upper half out and the new in by turning the crank.

    You can assess the bearing clearances with Plastigage.

    Not trying to be a Polyanna, but a little bearing damage does not sound like so much of a tragedy to me. The rod bearings are almost always the first to go in the bottom end, and - you have not checked them yet - they can easily be replaced in situ.

    Don't forget that you have a lot of cred with us - we could form a pool to send Bill to help you (he's already offered to help) or send your Jeep to Bill, or something similar, if you don't have enough resources or members nearby.
     
    timgr, Sep 14, 2008
    #39
  20. Sep 14, 2008
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    9,221
    Re: Rear main seal removal

    Yeah, it's not that I'm as worried about the engine, I agree with your assessment Tim, the groove looks like something foreign got in the oil. Like I said that journal of the crank felt fine, and looks fine. The bearing is my concern. I don't want to run on it.

    The bigger issue here is just my lack of time and available resources to do this myself. I just put the tow bar brackets on the bumper, I might just tow it down the road to a reputable shop just outside of town here where I live and have them overhaul it for me, hone the cylinders and put new rings in, etc. I've already freshened the top end, the heads were rebuilt two summers ago and the camshaft is new. So it'd be in good shape in the end if I take this route.

    That kills me because I want to be the one to do it, but like I said, time and resources. :(

    I'd love to just pull it to Billy's myself, we'll see what I can come up with...

    Thanks for the support guys. :)
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2008
    sparky, Sep 14, 2008
    #40
Page 2 of 4
New Posts