Twisties

Boy, this RMS change is turning into quite the challenge. Finally got the oil pan out and then started to work on the RMS. The punch method was not working on the bearing cap side, just wouldn't slide at all. Had to pick it apart and then finally got a grasp on a portion of it with some needle nose pliers and was able to pull it out.

The upper portion in the block will not move. I've hit it hard enough to slightly deform the end of the wire inside, both ends are now shoved up about 1/8". I've tried rotating the crank while hitting, loosening up the other bearing caps, nothing seems to get this sucker loose. About the only other thing I can think of is actually removing the crankshaft but I REALLY don't want to do that.

Any suggestions?

zr2toxj

How many bearing caps did you loosen? I went about halfway to the front of the engine with mine and it came right out.

Twisties

All of them. Still no joy.

*The Dude*

I got a punch that fits the metal part of the seal perfectly and I had to hit mine pretty hard to get it out. But once it moved it bumped out pretty easy. Its just getting it broke loose.

Twisties

Oh I've hit it plenty hard, I'm just worried now that the wad of metal at the ends is going to gouge something on it's way around.

Sandyman

I wonder what a heat gun would do to it? If you think it might work, try it on the half you removed.

Twisties

That's a thought! I'll try that this morning.

Twisties

Well, the old cap section of the seal just slides in now so it was hard to tell of the heat made any difference. I'm really stumped on this!

madmanmarty

You are using a brass punch,correct?
This will allow you to hit harder without worrying about damaging anything.

Twisties

Yes, brass. Obviously it's tight under there but I'm swinging a mechanics hammer pretty darn hard; hard enough to deform the wire ends in the seal.

As I mentioned earlier, I had the main cap in a vise and couldn't drive that part of the seal out either. Ended up picking at the rubber until I could grab a section in the center of the seal and it came out pretty easy by pulling straight up. Obviously can't do that on the upper portion with the crankshaft present.........

jay_sco

Just answered your post on M.net, now I find this. Yay, another MX5XJ! Anyway...I used a steel punch that was large enough for the surface of the flat part of the seal, used caution, just whacked it till it broke loose. Then went back to a wood dowel to drive it through a little further, then pliers.
The part in my cap was stuck pretty good too.

jay_sco

Any luck?

quneur

I took an old flat head screwdriver with a square shank and cut the tip off. It fit perfectly. Drove one end far enough to pull it out from other side.

denverd1

used a pick to get mine moving. a little heat is a good idea

Twisties

No update, haven't had time to really mess with it with work this week and another car in the family being down. I did try to make a custom wooden punch based on the size of the seal, two hammer blows and it crumbled. I like the screwdriver idea, may give that a whirl. Unfortunately I think the only square shank screwdrivers I have are my Craftsmen flat tips that I've had for 35 years....... might be time for one of them to lay down its life. I've also got a slightly larger brass drift on order that I'm going to whittle down when it gets here so it's got a squarish end that fits the groove instead of a circle.

Right now the XJ is just waiting patiently on the jackstands, fortunately it's a back up winter car and the weather is still fairly nice here in Tennessee. I'll probably be back on it this Saturday.

Thanks for all the tips!