In the event that you've noticed the fresh coat of oil sprayed all around the front of your engine, you're likely searching for a 5. nine cummins front crank seal install tool to finally fix that mess. It's one particular of those work opportunities that seems straightforward until you're looking at the front of the crankshaft and recognizing there is absolutely no room for error. The 12-valve plus 24-valve 5. 9 engines are renowned for longevity, but they aren't immune to leaks, plus the front crank seal is a common culprit.
Let's be honest, trying to tap a seal into place along with a hammer plus a block of wood might work upon a well used lawnmower, but it's a recipe for disaster on a Cummins. These seals are finicky. If they go ahead just a tiny bit crooked, they're going to leak. If you chip the lip of the seal throughout the install, they're going to drip. That's why the particular specialized install tool is incredibly much non-negotiable if you want to do the particular job once and also be done along with it.
Why the tool is definitely better than "winging it"
Typically the main reason you need to use the appropriate five. 9 cummins front crank seal install tool is perfect for the depth and alignment. The particular front cover on these engines is usually relatively thin, plus the seal has to sit at a very specific depth to ride upon the right part of the crankshaft. In case you push it in too much or not much enough, you're requesting trouble.
The particular tool acts as a pilot plus a driver. This bolts directly to the nose associated with the crankshaft, which ensures that everything is perfectly concentrated. Whenever you tighten the particular nuts down to press the seal in, the tool applies even stress across the whole circumference of the seal. This prevents the seal from "cocking" or tilting because it goes in to the timing cover. Anyone who provides tried to "tap" the large diameter seal into a pit knows how simple it is with regard to one side in order to dive in whilst the other side sticks out. On a 5. 9, that usually finishes with a wrecked seal and a trip returning to the parts store.
Dealing with the particular wear sleeve
A lot of the time, when you buy an alternative seal for a 5. 9 Cummins, it comes being a kit that includes a wear sleeve. If your motor has high mileage, the original seal has probably used a little groove directly into the nose of the crankshaft. In case you just pop a new seal on there, it may not seat properly against that groove, and it'll start leaking once again in just a week.
The 5. 9 cummins front crank seal install tool is generally designed to manage both the seal and the wear sleeve. The sleeve is a very thin piece of metal that fits over the crank nasal area to provide a fresh, smooth surface for the new seal. Pressing that outter on requires the lot of power, and it has to be flawlessly straight. The install tool makes this look easy. With no it, you'd most likely distort the thin metal sleeve, object rendering it useless.
Preparing for the task
Before you even touch the particular tool, you've obtained some work to do. You'll need to get the particular fan shroud plus the cooling enthusiast out of the way. Then, the harmonic balancer (or vibration damper) offers to come off. It is a great period to inspect the particular damper anyway; if the rubber ring will be cracked or bulging, replace it while you're in there.
Once the particular balancer is away, you'll view the aged seal. You are able to usually pry it away with a seal puller or carefully use a couple of sheet steel screws to it forward. Just be incredibly careful not to scratch the crankshaft or even the timing cover up housing. Any scratch on the crank may become a path for oil to escape, even with a brand-new seal.
The "Dry Install" rule
This is where a lot of guys mess up. Most modern seals regarding the 5. 9 Cummins are PTFE (Teflon) seals. Unlike old-school rubber seals that you'd slather in oil or even grease before setting up, PTFE seals must be installed bone dried out.
If a person put oil upon the seal or maybe the crank surface prior to using your 5. nine cummins front crank seal install tool , the seal will likely fail. The particular Teflon is developed to transfer a microscopic layer associated with itself onto the particular metal of the particular crankshaft as it spins, creating the own sealing surface area. Oil prevents this transfer from occurring. So, clean the particular crank nose with some brake cleaner and also a lint-free rag till it's spotless. After that, use the tool to press the particular dry seal into place.
Just how the tool actually works
As soon as your crank has been cleaned and the outdated seal is eliminated, you'll slide the seal onto the particular pilot part of the tool. The tool generally consists of the pilot flange, a driver housing, and some mounting bolts. You bolt the particular pilot to the end of the crank using the existing damper bolt openings. This keeps the tool from moving around.
Following, you place the seal (and wear sleeve, if using) onto the pilot. Then you glide the driver over that will. By tightening the nuts on the tool's studs, you slowly and efficiently press the seal into the front cover. You'll have the resistance increase when the seal reaches the correct depth. Most tools are designed in order to "bottom out" exactly where the seal needs to end up being, taking all the guesswork out of the equation.
Common mistakes to avoid
Despite the right 5. 9 cummins front crank seal install tool , you can nevertheless encounter snags if you aren't paying out attention. One big one is failing to remember to install the plastic "guide" that will often comes along with the seal. This guide helps the particular seal lip changeover onto the crankshaft without flipping backward. If the lips flips, the springtime inside the seal may pop off, and you'll have the massive leak instantly.
Another mistake is rushing the particular cleaning process. I can't stress good enough how clean the particular crank must be. Any kind of grit or remaining oil can destroy the PTFE's ability to seat. Furthermore, make sure you don't over-tighten the particular tool. While it's built to become tough, you're simply pressing a seal, not trying in order to fuse two pieces of metal together. Once it strikes the stop, you're done.
Is the tool value the investment?
If you're the DIYer, you may consider the price associated with a 5. 9 cummins front crank seal install tool and wonder if it's worth it for an one-time use. But look at it this way: a high-quality seal kit isn't specifically cheap, and the particular labor to obtain back into the front of the particular engine is the solid afternoon's function. If you screw up the install since you didn't have the tool, you've squandered the price of the seal and many hours of your life.
Plus, if a person own a Cummins, you're probably heading to keep this for a long period. These trucks have a habit associated with remaining in the family. Having the right tools on the shelf makes servicing way less stressful. And hey, a person can always give it to the buddy in trade for a case of beer when his 5. nine starts marking its territory on their driveway.
Completing the install
After the seal is usually seated and you've removed the tool, have a quick look with a flashlight. Ensure the seal looks even all the way up around. Now a person can place the harmonic balancer back upon. Make sure to torque the balancer can be bolted on to the correct spec—this is a high-vibration area, and you also don't want those coming loose.
Reinstall your fan and shroud, and you're basically great to go. It's usually a good idea to allow the truck sit down for a small bit prior to firing up, just to let the PTFE seal "settle" against the crank. Whenever you do begin it, keep a good eye on that front area for a couple minutes to create sure everything will be bone dry.
Using a 5. 9 cummins front crank seal install tool turns a potentially annoying, messy job right into a precise, professional repair. It's the distinction between wondering in case your truck is usually going to drip tomorrow and knowing that it's covered up tight regarding the next hundred, 000 miles. Don't gamble with your own front cover; obtain the tool and do it the right way.