Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

My rebuilding book "Rebuilding and tuning Ford's Kent crossflow engine"
(cant afford the Lotus head yet for my 711M block) states:
"To avoid oil leaks into the bellhousing its important to fit the cover
with the oil seal centralized. It is possible, with LUCK, to centralize it
by eye, but much better to use the Ford tool..."

It seems a simple enough job to me - should I really go to the effort and
expense of tracking down this tool (a "sleeve that fits over the end of
the crankshaft and into a recess in the rear cover to hold it central
while you tighten the bolts")?

TIA,
John J

John

You can succesfuly do it without the aligning tool provided your
careful. I would not do it by eye unless you have very good
calibrated eyes.

I normally do as follows

1. Snug up the bolts lightly so the seal housing is held lightly in
place.

2.Measure the radial gap between the seal housing and crank at
several points around the seal with a micrometer.

3. Lightly tap the seal housing with a preferably soft faced hammer
to move it until the measured gap is equal all around. You may find
you need to open out the bolt holes in the seal housing to get the
degree of movement required.

4. Tighten down the bolts and recheck the measurements to ensure the
seal housing has not moved in the tightening process.

I have made myself an aligning tool for the front seal as this is
harder and more critical to get central and a similar aligning tool
would not be to hard to make for the rear but I have never got around
to it as the above process has always worked ok for me and is not
difficult to do.

Rohan

Hej Michael,
hvordan monterer du den bagerste pakning p? sumpen ?

/leo



"Rohan Hodges" <***@***.***>
Sent by: ***@***.***
09-06-2005 15:08
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Subject
Re: [LotusElan.net] Fitting rear oil seal






John

You can succesfuly do it without the aligning tool provided your
careful. I would not do it by eye unless you have very good
calibrated eyes.

I normally do as follows

1. Snug up the bolts lightly so the seal housing is held lightly in
place.

2.Measure the radial gap between the seal housing and crank at
several points around the seal with a micrometer.

3. Lightly tap the seal housing with a preferably soft faced hammer
to move it until the measured gap is equal all around. You may find
you need to open out the bolt holes in the seal housing to get the
degree of movement required.

4. Tighten down the bolts and recheck the measurements to ensure the
seal housing has not moved in the tightening process.

I have made myself an aligning tool for the front seal as this is
harder and more critical to get central and a similar aligning tool
would not be to hard to make for the rear but I have never got around
to it as the above process has always worked ok for me and is not
difficult to do.

Rohan

Sorry for my last email - should have been forwarded to a friend !

/leo