So.. Longtime lurker and first-time poster:

 

I am replacing the clutch in my 1999 Legacy Outback, and decided while I'm in there, I would replace the (plastic) oil collector plate and rear main seal. So far, so good.. right?

 

Somehow, while removing the rear main seal, I have scratched the crankshaft where the seal mates. This poses an obvious problem.

 

I was thinking of gently removing the burr using a dremmel tool on low speed, then polishing throughly with fine emery cloth.

 

* Is this the correct approach?

* How smooth does the surface of the crankshaft need to be?

 

Any thoughts or constructive criticism is welcome.

I've used just emery cloth in the past. Has long as it's not gouged it should be ok. If it that bad you think a dremel tool is required it may be too deep.

Without seeing it's tough to tell. Even then its a crap shoot if its close.

I've used just emery cloth in the past. Has long as it's not gouged it should be ok. If it that bad you think a dremel tool is required it may be too deep.

Without seeing it's tough to tell. Even then its a crap shoot if its close.

 

Thanks for the input. So how deep is too deep?

If you can catch a fingernail on it, it's too deep.

 

Emery cloth (mechanics cloth) should clean it up. If not you might just have to live with a little seepage.

 

If you really, really want to fix it, then I would reccomend one of the Devcon products.... I would probably go with this stuff:

 

http://www.devcon.com/devconfamilyproduct.cfm?familyid=109&catid=15

 

GD

For older US cars, you could get a sleeve you'd glue to the crank to fix cranks that were grooved by the seal after years of use.

 

Maybe someone makes that for subies?

 

 

Dave

They do make them for subies. For ea82 engines as least. I've used one before and it worked great.

Those slevees are the way to go. nice to know they make em for soobies.:cool: worked really well on the gm small blocks I used em on,

Stick with emery cloth. Dremel will probably remove too much material.

 

Scratches that run length wise are the worst.

Those slevees are the way to go. nice to know they make em for soobies.:cool: worked really well on the gm small blocks I used em on,

 

I don't think they are make specific as much as size.