Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Oil Seals on Side Covers

When installing the oil seals (rubber O shaped part that goes around the gearbox lever, and clutch engagement lever) should I use any silicone on the open hole before I press them in? I think I'm fine just pressing them in, but just wanted to make sure. My gearbox oil seal started leaking now after I reinstalled the side cover. I think I knicked it just enough when I was putting it over the gearbox lever.

Just make sure everything is clean. No silicone needed. I had to change mine a short while ago and got this tip from member Fred:

Quote:

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...slip the new rubber seal over the shifter and tap it into place. I took a long socket with the same diameter of the seal to tap it into place. The long socket was taller then the end of the shifter so it made it easy to put the new seal on and it seals evenly. Be careful not to bang it too deep when you are taping it into place.

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Worked for me. No more leaking.

The only caveat would be if the case got nicked during seal removal. If it did, then a bit of silicone would be recommended to fill the nick.

Ok... that's what I thought, and that's what I did on my clutch dust seal. I used a socket of same diameter and tapped it in. I figured it never hurts to ask just in case.

Thanks.

I put a little brush on permatex on if I think it may leak. Super 300 if I remember right but would have to look to be sure. In most cases the seals fit nice and tight and don't need anything.

Just a simple pointer that many probably already know. When you slip a lipped seal over a shaft with sharp edges, wrap a small piece of very thin plastic around the shaft then lube the seal and slide it down the plastic over the shaft to prevent it from getting knicked.

I'm thinking a small finger condom rolled on over the shaft, then lubed with some castrol, wd, or astroglide should do the trick.