89 alpha 1 outdrive with gear oil in driveshaft bellows, seals changed 2 months ago

[stang32]

so i replaced the inner shaft seal about 2 months ago, the yoke didnt look scored, it cleaned up nice with emery cloth. i had to pull the drive this weekend because of engine issues and there is gear oil back in the driveshaft bellows again. i pulled the drain plugs and very little came out. i pressure tested the drive @ 15lbs for 2 hrs and rotated the shaft severl times and the pressure doesnt drop. very odd, right? any thoughts?

 

[achris]

Try the pressure test at 3 or 4psi... I've seen seals that hold at high pressure leak badly at low.

Chris....

 

[alldodge]

Also grab the yoke and try to move it up/down and side to side to see if this causes loss of pressure

 

[harringtondav]

Also grab the yoke and try to move it up/down and side to side to see if this causes loss of pressure

??? If the gear yoke moves as above with the castle retainer fully torqued, there is a serious loss of preload in the drive gear's bearing set. Agree this could cause a leak, but it can also cause major problems with the gear set.

Also 15 psi is getting a little too high. If the Alpha I has the same seal carrier under the water pump as the Gen II, you run the risk of blowing it up out of it's bore. Been there myself, before I learned 10 psi is the recommended limit.

 

[stang32]

So i lowered the pressure to under 5psi and no change. Pressure holds. Ive spun the yoke numerous times. I guess im just going to tear it apart and hope i find an issue with the seal/yoke.

 

[stang32]

i tore the upper seal out today and there is a slight grove in the yoke, more visual than physical, in other words, i dont feel it with my finger nail, i changed the yoke anyway . its under pressure overnight with about 5psi
hope this solves my issues

 

[NHGuy]

I have heard of folks placing the seal at a depth that lands the wiper on fresh metal.

 

[achris]

I have heard of folks placing the seal at a depth that lands the wiper on fresh metal.

40 thou deeper into the carrier than 'normal'... Works a treat...

Chris....

 

[stang32]

so the drive has held pressure at 5psi for 2 days, im pretty sure this will do the trick