FarmerNick

Hi All - Working on replacing the harmonic balancer on a 2000 cherokee sport. I went for the front main seal while at it (which was a pain in the butt to get off).

I forgot to take a picture before I installed the new seal. However, When I was running my finger around the timing cover surface to make sure I didn't scratch it, I noticed a sort of channel at the very bottom of the surface, like as close as you can get to the ground. There also was a chunk missing out of the part of the surface the seal ends up pressing against so it doesn't go any deeper.

I don't recall using the seal prier near the area the scratch/channel thing is at. And it looked incredibly straight so I notched it up to something that's supposed to be there, and if it's not then I'll have to replace the cover anyhow so might as well button it all up and see what happens.

But, now I'm nervous. Does anyone know what this might have been?

Thank you.

robsjeep

sometimes a different brand seal will have a differently located lip, to avoid running over damaged areas, or sometimes a seal can be pressed into place at a lesser or greater depth in order to move the seal lip away from damaged areas. Finally there are repair bands, percision steel, bands, very thin, that are slipped over damaged seal surfaces of shafts, creating a new surface for the lip to ride upon.

FarmerNick

Thanks Rob - I appreciate the response. Good to know if/when push comes to shove I can fix this... although I'd probably be inclined to just replace the timing cover.

I was primarily asking if there's supposed to be a lip there on the seal surface.

Thank you,
Nick

FarmerNick

Ok I think I figured it out. The pic below shows a little notch on the other side of where the seal rests. So I THINK I'll be good. Will keep an eye out for leaks and report back.

Does anyone know why that notch is there?
Thanks.