Chain case seals

[Kenzie]

when everyone has chain case apart are they changing both upper and lower seals? My lower seal has been less then nice coming out so far and is really gummed up in there

 

[RTX]

I did both of mine.
To be honest, if i had to do it over again i would just leave it alone till it leaks.
I had a hell of a time getting the bottom seal back in place properly.
I have replaced hundreds of bearings and seals in my lifetime and that bottom seal on the chaincase was BY FAR the most difficult i have ever encountered.
For some reason i really struggled to press it into the chaincase. I really believe the hole is incorrectly sized for the seal
I ended up damaging 5 different seals before i got 1 to fit without bending it or rolling an edge.
I greasing the outer lip to get it to slide in easier, no luck.
I tried heating the case to enlarge it, then putting the seal in, no luck, a few burnt fingers.
I tried pressing the seal in dry, no luck.
I made a jig to locate it in place while i pressed it in greased, no luck.
Every thing i tried caused the rubber outer coating of the seal to roll and peel before it would fit in the case.
I wont ever touch that seal again unless i have 6-8 spare seals kicking around as spares. Lol

 

[Alsim]

I did both of mine.
To be honest, if i had to do it over again i would just leave it alone till it leaks.
I had a hell of a time getting the bottom seal back in place properly.
I have replaced hundreds of bearings and seals in my lifetime and that bottom seal on the chaincase was BY FAR the most difficult i have ever encountered.
For some reason i really struggled to press it into the chaincase. I really believe the hole is incorrectly sized for the seal
I ended up damaging 5 different seals before i got 1 to fit without bending it or rolling an edge.
I greasing the outer lip to get it to slide in easier, no luck.
I tried heating the case to enlarge it, then putting the seal in, no luck, a few burnt fingers.
I tried pressing the seal in dry, no luck.
I made a jig to locate it in place while i pressed it in greased, no luck.
Every thing i tried caused the rubber outer coating of the seal to roll and peel before it would fit in the case.
I wont ever touch that seal again unless i have 6-8 spare seals kicking around as spares. Lol

X2 for the bottom seal. I destroyed 3 seals before a got it. For me the only way that I had success was with a press

 

[ViperBill]

When I replaced my bearings I installed a sealed bearing in the bottom. Same bearing as the brake side. Left the seal in to keep out water and have no problem since

 

[DJ Hennessy]

Would putting the seal in freezer for 1/2 hour before installing and heating the seat work possibly? I had a hard time when working on my apex and someone suggested this for one of the bearings, worked much easier than all my other attempts.

 

[cannondale27]

I must have got lucky. One try. But I have a driver kit that just happened to have the perfect size driver for that seal. I may have put a film of Silicone on seal edge also. Usually do. Maybe it lubed it. Good heads up though. DJ not sure. But it sure helped with the bearings. They basically pushed in by hand.

 

[RTX]

I must have got lucky. One try. But I have a driver kit that just happened to have the perfect size driver for that seal. I may have put a film of Silicone on seal edge also. Usually do. Maybe it lubed it. Good heads up though. DJ not sure. But it sure helped with the bearings. They basically pushed in by hand.

Like i said i tried everything. Lubricated with oil, with grease, etc
Personally i think quality control is the problem. I believe the seal area of the case was machined incorrectly.
I realise i am measuring a rubber covered seal, but my seal was .030 larger than the dia of the hole i was trying to press it into. The seal should have been about .005-.010 larger max. No matter what i did, the rubber on the seal would start to tear off the seal before it would press into the hole.
I was so frustrated with this after Damaging the second seal i actually pulled the inner case off the sled so i could use a press to press it in. I still managed to screw up 3 more seals. This thing had me second guessing myself every step of the way, lol
As stated above i tried heating the case, but thats only going to make the hole open up like .002-.003 not .030
I have a background as a machinist and have worked as a maintenance mechanic for the last 20 years. I have installed hundreds if not a thousand seals in my lifetime. I have a pretty solid knowledge of this stuff and either own, or have access to all the tools to do the job properly. There was definately a machining tolerance issue with my chain case.
Honestly i almost put it on the milling machine to bore the hole out larger. The thought ran through my mind at least a dozen times. Lol

Bearings are always easy, lol. I have a cone style bearing heater. Once you get used to using it, there is no better /easier way to install bearings.

 

[cannondale27]

Like i said i tried everything. Lubricated with oil, with grease, etc
Personally i think quality control is the problem. I believe the seal area of the case was machined incorrectly.
I realise i am measuring a rubber covered seal, but my seal was .030 larger than the dia of the hole i was trying to press it into. The seal should have been about .005-.010 larger max. No matter what i did, the rubber on the seal would start to tear off the seal before it would press into the hole.
I was so frustrated with this after Damaging the second seal i actually pulled the inner case off the sled so i could use a press to press it in. I still managed to screw up 3 more seals. This thing had me second guessing myself every step of the way, lol
As stated above i tried heating the case, but thats only going to make the hole open up like .002-.003 not .030
I have a background as a machinist and have worked as a maintenance mechanic for the last 20 years. I have installed hundreds if not a thousand seals in my lifetime. I have a pretty solid knowledge of this stuff and either own, or have access to all the tools to do the job properly. There was definately a machining tolerance issue with my chain case.
Honestly i almost put it on the milling machine to bore the hole out larger. The thought ran through my mind at least a dozen times. Lol

Bearings are always easy, lol. I have a cone style bearing heater. Once you get used to using it, there is no better /easier way to install bearings.

I dont doubt you one bit. QC sucks for sure. I don't know what to tell people when bearing changing time comes? Maybe if seals dont leak leave them in if confident no damage even after removing bearings. Sorry if I offended you RTX I just must have gotten lucky with fits.

 

[viper strike]

Would putting the seal in freezer for 1/2 hour before installing and heating the seat work possibly? I had a hard time when working on my apex and someone suggested this for one of the bearings, worked much easier than all my other attempts.

Yes it will make it easier if you put the bearings in the freezer.shrinks ever so slightly. also if you heat up the area you are installing bearing into. It will expand the opening and make installing a breeze.

 

[Alsim]

Yes it will make it easier if you put the bearings in the freezer.shrinks ever so slightly. also if you heat up the area you are installing bearing into. It will expand the opening and make installing a breeze.

But don't working for the seal

 

[viper strike]

But don't working for the seal[/QUOTE
Yes it should,put seal in freezer for a while.
Lighty heat area before install not hot enough to burn the seal but warm. it will slide right in, i did this on my doos all the time.

 

[Kenzie]

Ended up creating some nice wood drivers. Used a hole saw about same size as seal and another on bearing size ended up working was still a chore.

 

[RTX]

I dont doubt you one bit. QC sucks for sure. I don't know what to tell people when bearing changing time comes? Maybe if seals dont leak leave them in if confident no damage even after removing bearings. Sorry if I offended you RTX I just must have gotten lucky with fits.

Not offended at all.
Just trying to clarify that i know what i am doing and there is definately something wrong.
Its all good bud!!

 

[RTX]

Ended up creating some nice wood drivers. Used a hole saw about same size as seal and another on bearing size ended up working was still a chore.

Glad to hear you got it in there without destroying it!

 

[Alsim]

Not offended at all.
Just trying to clarify that i know what i am doing and there is definately something wrong.
Its all good bud!!

Remove the back case and use a press for the bottom seal.