Kickstart oil seal installation problem

[jazzdude]

I have been trying for the past hour to get the oil seal in without the inner rubber ring turning inside out when I push the kickstart shaft in the last couple of mm.

I have tried wrapping the splines in tape and used a bit of thin plastic as a tube but the inner lips still turn outwards. I can't imagine how this seal can go on without the lips turning out when the ring for the circlip passes through it. Is it supposed to be like this or am I missing something.

[PeteB]

Thought I'd reply as I had the same problem last week with a genuine SIL GP shaft... I found the machined part where the outer bush and oilseal run had virtually no chamfer to it at its outboard/spline end, so as I pushed the shaft in this sharp edge caught on the oilseal. I guess you are having a similar issue as you say it is only catching in the last few mm, so not on the splines themselves. I ended up chamfering the edge VERY CAREFULLY with a small file and then dressed it smooth with a fine sharpening stone, and then greased up well. It only needed a tiny chamfer to allow the oil seal to open a tad and to slide up onto the machined part of the shaft. Hope this is helpful

[joespeed]

try the milk carton cut into a roll,well greased up to assist with assembly

[jazzdude]

I must admit the thought of filing anything worries me.

When you say use a milk carton, I assume you mean a cardboard one? Should it be wrapped just around just the splines or over the machined part too?

[joespeed]

no a plastic one wrap it around the shaft and tape it on grease the outside and slide through the seal when home remove the tape and ease out the home made tube leaving the seal intact!

[jazzdude]

thanks I will try that.

[jazzdude]

Just thought I'd add, I know the bush on the gearbox side must be flush with the housing, should it be proud on the kick start side because it is on mine.

[PeteB]

The outer bush should be flush with the flat surface, inside the oil seal recess, that the oil seal inner face sits against. This will make sure it doesn't foul the oil seal lip, although I shouldn't think a mm or so either way will matter too much. See Sticky's manual, edition 2, page 69.