Dual Lip Front Main Seal

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:26 am

The seal is actually 2 thinner seals. Any advice on installing the damn things using a hammer? I'd imagine I'd lightly tap the first one until it seats and then use the 2nd one to drive them both home. I'm not sure if I'd bought them if I'da known they were 2 seperate seals.

Hopefully this will solve the leak. Should I JB Weld the camshaft and galley plugs too? Probably wouldn't hurt.

Post by **Amskeptic** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:12 pm

hambone wrote:The seal is actually 2 thinner seals. Any advice on installing the damn things using a hammer? I'd imagine I'd lightly tap the first one until it seats and then use the 2nd one to drive them both home. I'm not sure if I'd bought them if I'da known they were 2 seperate seals.

Hopefully this will solve the leak. Should I JB Weld the camshaft and galley plugs too? Probably wouldn't hurt.

That is no dual lip seal I have run across. The dual lip seals I have run across are one housing with a dual lip surface. I strongly suggest caution if there are two discreet seal assemblies. They will not have sufficient interference to hold in the bore as the engine heats up. IMO
Colin

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:01 am

I was afraid of that. However, they were sold by Aircooled.net and they tend to only sell quality stuff.

73Kombi · Post by **73Kombi** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:48 am

Is this the seal of which you speak?
http://www.aircooled.net/new-bin/viewpr ... 0943245826

Aircooled.Net wrote:2 lips! This gives 2X the oil retention as conventional seals. The seals work so well, we recommend packing grease between the seals, so the outside one doesn't run dry.

Sounds ok to me...(well, the sales pitch is lofty)...it doesn't have two "distinct" seal assemblies.

LostInaDessert

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:04 am

That's the one(s) I ordered. But it really is 2 thin seperate seals trust me I'm not 100% mad yet.
They also charged me $10 shipping, which caused me to spit out my Wheaties and send them a WTF MAN? email.
"you should have specified a cheaper shipping method" they told me. Kind of went back and forth, they sort of apologized but I'm still out the kash.

In spite of spending $20 for this (these) POS I'm reluctant to use it. Them. ARGH.

73Kombi · Post by **73Kombi** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:40 am

Well then, post up a pic of your "two piece" seal.

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:11 am

Here's a pic to prove my non-madnes:

from
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/ ... ?id=753736

But it's the same damned part.

And, an email to aircooled.net:

How the heck do you install the "2 lip" 2-piece front main seals on a type1? I'm worried about the seals getting installed at an angle and there being enough material to hold them in once the engine heat cycles.
I'd imagine you tap the first one in and then let the second one drive them both into place, but not sure.
thanks,
-Bob

and a fast reply from them:

From: custservice@aircooled.net
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 9:16 AM
Subject: Re: main seal

I do it just like you thought Robert.

73Kombi · Post by **73Kombi** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:17 am

FromtheSambaAd wrote:Dual Flywheel Seal Price: 5.00
NEW DAUL FLYWHEEL SEAL ,NEVER-LEAK (113-105-245)HALF THE WIDTH OF SINGLE SEAL SET

Well you can't bitch about the price...$5? Does each seal have it's own spring?

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:20 am

Yep just thinner.
Wish I had gone that route instead of mail order.
I am on the fence with this one.

zabo · Post by **zabo** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:49 pm

I would just get a normal 1 piece seal
I recently replaced mine with the single seal they sell. I actually ordered two and was glad i did since i botched the install on the 1st.

- wouldnt take the chance guessing on the install and then have to pull everything back out again.

Oregon72 · Post by **Oregon72** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:04 pm

I will be installing the Victor R. orange one piece on my bus within the next week or two.

What are the things to think about when putting these babies in? I didn't know the inner area of the seal should be filled with grease - what other things don't I know about?

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:54 pm

It's voodoo. I've had them bone dry or leaking.

Oregon72 · Post by **Oregon72** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:00 pm

hambone wrote:It's voodoo. I've had them bone dry or leaking.

I was hoping you wouldn't say that

Post by **Amskeptic** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 10:11 pm

Oregon72 wrote:I will be installing the Victor R. orange one piece on my bus within the next week or two.

What are the things to think about when putting these babies in? I didn't know the inner area of the seal should be filled with grease - what other things don't I know about?

By all means pack the inner spring/lip area with grease. There is no way in hell that thing will last if you don't have a well lubricated seal-to-flywheel surface.

Now then. The OUTER perimeter can be installed with sealant or solvent. I use GumOut to slick it up a bit and install by hand only. Sealant can be overkill and I have had occasions where removing the seal was such a monster that it ran the risk of damaging the crankcase.

I have used dual lip single seals, but never have I used two skinny seals. I too trust Air-Cooled.Net, and find this two-piece seal deal a bit consternating

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 10:16 pm

You don't need to use a hammer to tap it into place?
I didn't pack the spring recess with grease last time. I will this time!

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Dual Lip Front Main Seal

Dual Lip Front Main Seal

Re: Dual Lip Front Main Seal