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Simple seal deal
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A thin sheet of recycled plastic protects a new oil seal during installation. Photo by Scott Nesbitt |
There’s a simple (and cheap) way to ensure that new oil seals survive the installation process by using recycled plastic to form a protective collar during the installation.
Most sealed shafts on engines and other components have a keyway with sharp edges or some surface roughness that can damage the delicate inner lip that does the real work on a seal. New rubber seals are flexible enough to accommodate a thin plastic protective sheet.
The application shown in the photo is for the oil seal on an overhead camshaft. In this case, the end of the camshaft was very short, almost flush with the cylinder head. When the seal was test-fitted, the seal lip would flip outward, rather than pointing inward as is required. In this situation, the plastic shield acted to extend the shaft and assure that the seal was installed properly.
Find some relatively stiff plastic, like that used in water and soda bottles. The plastic in the photo came from the package in which the seals were delivered.
Carefully cut the plastic so the ends butt or have a small air gap, rather than overlapping. This minimizes the stretching required of the new seal.
When cutting plastic with scissors, you will leave a very small sharp bend at the cut edge. Draw the cut edge between your lips, and you’ll feel that edge. Make sure that tiny sharp edge faces the shaft to avoid any chance of damaging the seal’s lip.
Lubricate both faces of the plastic with whatever lubricant or fluid the seal works in. If in doubt, use petroleum jelly.
After the seal is in place, remove the collar with a gentle twisting motion to avoid pulling the seal lip outward or cutting the lip.
It’s probably not worth saving a seal collar after installation; it may pick up grit. Just keep your eyes open for stiff, thin plastic, and keep a supply in a clean plastic bag, ready for trimming and protection.
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