3B crank seal

[Ilkorin]

Just done a timing belt on the 3B and all has gone well....

no I lie. I replaced the crank oil seal as a precaution and the new one is leaking. I only just read on here that it's likely the old one wore a groove into the crank snub and I've probably fitted the new one in exactly the same place. The leak is fairly bad (drip drip), but at least it stops when the engine is off.

Obviously without stripping the whole lot down again I won't know what's happened, but surely I can do slightly less this time as I'm just looking at the crank oil seal?

So a few questions:
I'm working under the assumption I can re-use the timing belt, as it will have done very few miles. Water pump needs to move as I need to de-tension the belt. Does this mean a new o-ring?

Crank bolt was tightened but not up to full torque - got to 200Nm + 90* (vs 180*). Can I re-use? It's a stretch bolt I know

Got a new seal coming in just in case the one on the car is damaged, but if it looks ok, can I just tap it in a bit and be fairly confident it will work?

Also if anyone has any shortcuts / wisdom now is a good time as I've spent most of the evening lamenting the fact that I have to go through the last few days work all over again...

[adam g]

Bad luck, how annoying. You will be fine to reuse belt and o ring if you only just bought them.

[sidrick]

Why was your crank bolt not tightened to spec?

[Ilkorin]

Ran out of strength to be honest... obviously need a longer scaffold pole. I got past 90, but not to 180.

[Tonks4x4]

When fitting the seal I always use RTV silicone aswell. There is nothing worse than doing that job and then the new seals leak!

[terrybullwon]

Just do the seal.

Drill a small hole into the old one. Use a engineers scribe with a 90' end on it to pull the old one out. Oil the new one up and slide it on.

[Ilkorin]

Yes, I was going to redo the seal, just waiting for a new one to come in... just a major pain having to do the whole job again! At least I will know what I am doing this time!

Any way of checking the seal before reassembling to make sure it's all ok?

Also an opportunity to get a bigger pole on the crank bolt and get it up to proper torque

[LHD_Kid]

You can also remove the spring from the new seal, break it open at the joint and cut off 1mm of the spring (no more) re-join and re-fit, this tightens the seal on th shaft a tiny bit, and will help...

[Ilkorin]

Interesting, that's the first I heard of this method... when the new seal comes in I shall have a quick inspection!