Front Seal leak

Restoration of 52N. Got the engine installed and running. I had to replace a cracked/leaking front timing cover and now there are no leaks anywhere….. EXCEPT the front seal, at least around the seal, I can not pinpoint the exact location. I was stubborn enough to reuse the one piece seal because it made sense vs the two pieces, but now I wonder about the wisdom of using it.
The rear rope seal is fine and no leaks there. So right now I am going to drop the oil pan again and check it out, in the meantime I ordered a rope seal.
I like to know what I did wrong, I took my time and all the necessary precautions and still leaked.
I am really inclined to install the rope seal as it has been done for the last 70+ years. Did anyone have problems installing the one piece?

If you any wear on the front pulley, it
will leak. I'd try a new pulley.
75 Tips

NCmau,I think you answered your own question.I was stubborn enough to reuse the one piece seal because it made sense.
You should have replaced the seal in the used front cover,and checked the pulley for any wear and replaced it if it had any groves wore in it from old rope seal or rubber seal

Joining the choir apparently. New seals. Every time.
I replaced my pulley too. Mine was too far gone to do anything
except maybe have it machined and speedy-sleeved. It was
cheaper for me to replace it.

(quoted from post at 01:16:23 08/28/18) NCmau,I think you answered your own question.I was stubborn enough to reuse the one piece seal because it made sense.
You should have replaced the seal in the used front cover,and checked the pulley for any wear and replaced it if it had any groves wore in it from old rope seal or rubber seal

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I guess I was not exactly clear in my statement. When I said reuse the seal, it was a new seal with a new pulley. I installed it then I took it off again when I installed the new cover. It was practically new.

Seal the oil fill tube and shoot a little compressed air down the dip stick tube... Spray around the suspect area with a mix of water and kids bubble bath are windex...

If you have are can get hold of a air regulator set it as low as you can I use 1/2 lbs of air pressure I would think 10lbs are lower would be OK... Ell the exhaust of a vacuum cleaner would work use you imagination to get some positive pressure in the crankcase...

I didn't try a one piece seal. But have had now leaks with the two piece rope seal and a new pulley. I used an old school method of coating the new seal with white grease before putting the pulley in.

Frankly I can not understand how a new one piece seal would leak. It fits so well with a new pulley. I believe the leak has to take place in one or either side of it. I used ultra gray RTV which did a great job everywhere around the two timing covers, but I must have missed the boat, somehow, at the bottom, maybe during positioning the oil pan. I do not know…. but I will try again in few days.

I used your method you suggested in my previous posting. It works really well as I had to go back a fix a leak. I applied the bubble bath with the brush but I think the spray would be better, especially at the bottom were the seal is. I will try again in few days and post the result.
Kind of upsets me in a way, that after struggling for two months with an engine rebuilt, now I have to battle a stupid leak.
I am happy with the engine performance, (it started on the first crank) it has good compression and good oil pressure and, of course, I could not have done it without the help of the resident gurus.

Frankly I can not understand how a new one piece seal would leak. It fits so well with a new pulley. I believe the leak has to take place in one or either side of it. I used ultra gray RTV which did a great job everywhere around the two timing covers, but I must have missed the boat, somehow, at the bottom, maybe during positioning the oil pan. I do not know…. but I will try again in few days.

I used your method you suggested in my previous posting. It works really well as I had to go back a fix a leak. I applied the bubble bath with the brush but I think the spray would be better, especially at the bottom were the seal is. I will try again in few days and post the result.
Kind of upsets me in a way, that after struggling for two months with an engine rebuilt, now I have to battle a stupid leak.
I am happy with the engine performance, (it started on the first crank) it has good compression and good oil pressure and, of course, I could not have done it without the help of the resident gurus.

(quoted from post at 16:56:12 08/27/18) Restoration of 52N. Got the engine installed and running. I had to replace a cracked/leaking front timing cover and now there are no leaks anywhere….. EXCEPT the front seal, at least around the seal, I can not pinpoint the exact location. I was stubborn enough to reuse the one piece seal because it made sense vs the two pieces, but now I wonder about the wisdom of using it.
The rear rope seal is fine and no leaks there. So right now I am going to drop the oil pan again and check it out, in the meantime I ordered a rope seal.
I like to know what I did wrong, I took my time and all the necessary precautions and still leaked.
I am really inclined to install the rope seal as it has been done for the last 70+ years. Did anyone have problems installing the one piece?

Click to expand...

Its not leaking, it is just marking its territory!

"Its not leaking, it is just marking its territory"

Yes, It is marking its territory pretty aggressively. When running, a drop every 4-5 seconds. :?

NCmau, I'm sure that's very aggravating. I had the hydraulic pump out 3 times before I got it working on my 2N. I got really good at it though. 35 minutes from start of draining the oil to sitting it on the bench the last time.

(quoted from post at 01:08:59 08/29/18) NCmau, I'm sure that's very aggravating. I had the hydraulic pump out 3 times before I got it working on my 2N. I got really good at it though. 35 minutes from start of draining the oil to sitting it on the bench the last time.

Click to expand...

Ahhh… the silver lining!!!… true, it gets easier the second (or the third) time around, but it is still a PITA.

I put a Speedi-Sleeve on the pulley of my 901. I don't know if they can be used on the Ns.