[alfa] 1750 oil leak

[alfacybersite <acs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

By overwhelming demand...okay two emails: To replace the rear crank so 
it is slam dunk okee doky once buttoned back up: Obviously the engine 
has to come out and you have to split the tranny / bellhousing from the 
engine. Remove clutch and flywheel. You did remember to drain the oil 
first didn't you? Put on engine stand and rotate 180 degrees and remove 
oil pan. Remove rear main bearing cap. Remove rear oil seal and examine. 
Sure hope the outside is buggered or you're going to be really pissed at 
me (though you'd have to get in the back of the line).

One moment please: I now suggest you also examine the "seal surface" on 
the crankshaft and see if there is a groove in it. Thanks to Youse Guys 
I'm now a convert to Speedisleeves. They are thin stainless sleeves 
which fit over the "bearing" surface and help eliminate oil leaking 
through the groove. Isn't it amazing neoprene / rubber can cut steel? 
About $20. Chicago Rawhide name comes up as suppliers along with a place 
in the Northwest which I can dig out. I bought mine in the City of 
Irwindale. Called up a local bearing, seal, etc. place on a Friday and 
had two in first thing Monday a.m.

So now you've fixed the groove: The installation of the seal is really, 
really tough. Slid it on the crank. Put a smear of silicone grease on 
each of the two cigarette seals (Yes, they are available - Centerline, 
Alfa Parts, ?  - don't use that silicone crap) and slid them down about 
a third of the way and using the back of your ballpean hammer, began 
tapping the rear main down. Do make sure the crank seal stays in place 
and the cigarette seals are sliding down as you tap, If not, remove and 
adjust accordingly. Once all tapped down and all bolted up - and if 
everything went perfectly - the crank seal is safe and sound and snugly 
in place and there is just a little itty bitty bit of the cigarette 
seals sticking up. If more than a little itty bitty bit, you reach into 
your tool box and pull out your factory cigarette installation tool 
which (I believe) allows both seals to be pounded down in unison. What! 
You don't have the factory tool? Me neither. So you pull out your steel 
tube which measures .50" O.D. and .40" I.D. and is "around" 3" long. 
Then you take out the "special" bolt whose shaft (actually I'm not 
exactly sure what this bolt really is, but simply told the non-franchise 
hardware store I needed a bolt which fits snugly inside) measures .39" / 
9.9 mm (no name head fits a 17 mm and 11/ 16" sockets) and is 6.5" 
long. Pound each cigarette seal down with ballpean hammer almost flush.

Button up and install. Oh yeah, add oil before starting.

Hopefully you Really first determined the rear seal is the culprit, so I 
don't have to be the one.

Biba
Irwindale, CA USA     
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