I have my timing cover off to do a new cam, timing chain, ect, ect. Problem is, PO must have not put any grease on the front crank seal.

I tried my best to get it off without tearing it to pieces but it just wasn't happening. Now I'm have to resort to picking at it and getting it off little by little. Does anyone know if there is a product that will loosen or eat away at the rubber and help me separate it from the metal? I'm concerned about excessively scoring up the metal. Not to mention it is going to be very time consuming.

 

Sounds like you need a seal puller.

Like this one.

 

I have one of those, you get it hooked in and the edge just rips through it.

 

There may be some type of sealant or glue holding the oil seal in. Last guy in there may have damaged the mating surface and applied sealant to prevent an oil leak. When you finally get the seal out check the cover carefully for damage; you may need to do the same for your new oil seal. A new front cover is five bills, used one is way cheaper but may have problems so be careful.

 

if you have to put a large socket on the inside and drive it out, it is only made of tin.

 

If you have the plate off - you can work the seal out as drowsap has outlined on the bench using a socket as a drift.

If you need to get it out while the cover is still on the engine that will be interesting.

Seems a small angled piece of metal from a small gear puller may work.

http://www.chain-auto-tools.com/pics/AMM1721E_DEMO1.jpg

 

Hi

I pulled the seal from around the drive shaft on Pajero injection pump today. Admittedly it is small by comparison, about 3/4" ID, I used 2 dry wall screws drilled into the seal face on opposite sides and used pointed nose pliers on them one at a time levering against a piece of aluminium plate. Took 5 minutes but it came out without damaging anything apart from the old seal obviously.

TIP. if someone has 'glued' the seal in place acetone breaks down most engineering glues.

 

if it still on the truck take a small screwdriver - punch and fold it down onto the crank and rip it out with vise grips. if it this hard to remove i would guess it has gasket cement on it.

 

Great ideas.
I like the dry wall screw idea.
Drill a small hole and use dry wall screws. Elegant.

I am one to use the drowsap method though.

 

Hi, you don't need to even drill a small hole, if you use the black dry wall screws they are so hard they self pierce the metal using a power screw driver as they do on wall rails so in this application you don't get any drill swarf in the crankcase. On a crank seal you may need about 4 or 5 screws to be effective and work them on opposite sides each time. Almost never fails.