1960 40 hp Upper seal gone

[samo_ott]

I have a friend who has the upper seal spewing oil over the electrical parts and buggering them up. I have the same engine but have never touched the seal up top. Is it easy to replace? After the ignition plate and all ignition parts are removed can it be popped out the top or is it more of an issue to replace? Is the part easily available? thx.

 

[F_R]

Re: 1960 40 hp Upper seal gone

It is easy to get out with the special tool made for the job. Very difficult without the tool. You will wind up destroying it and taking it out in little bits and pieces. Be careful you don't break the aluminum crankcase extension that the plate pivots on, or you're all done.

Are you positive that the seal is leaking? I've seen tons of those motors with the ignition all glopped up with dirty black oily scunge. It is because somebody went nuts greasing the mag plate mounting rings. Heat and vibration liquifies the grease and it splatters all over everything. Clean it all up with some electrical spray cleaner and re-lube the mounting rings very sparingly with just a thin smear of EP grease.

BTW, any leakage from the seal is clear fuel just like you put in the gas tank.....at least till it mixes with the other black scunge.

 

[larky]

Re: 1960 40 hp Upper seal gone

the seal takes a special tool to remove, kind of looks like a piece of threaded pipe with a handle, it also has a bolt down through it much like a wheel puller. you need the tool because if you break the casting that surrounds the seal the whole powerhead could be considered junk. the armature ring rotates on that part of the casting. a few months ago i had to get towed in off the lake because that part of the block cracked on my 59' 35hp, and the coils were hitting the magnets of the flywheel.