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 Post subject: need help w/ a crusty a$$ seal
PostPosted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 8:45 pm 
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My stiffness is only an illusion
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Working on the new to me e30 to get most of the mechanical issues and leaks sorted out. Trans leak was the first one to tackle as it was the worst of the lot. Replaced the pan gasket and cleaned up the dip tube connection to stop leaking. Thought I had this one beat and now I have another leak.

There's a seal on the side of the tranny right above the pan where the selector rod feeds into the tranny. There's a 10mm seal that's seen better days and it's hard as a freaking brick. I have about 1.25" of clearance between the tranny and the tunnel. I've bent my picks and I can't get a small screw driver in far enough to wedge the seal out.

Need some friendly advice and help here please on how to attack getting this seal out. Have the replacement ready to go. I hate to drop the pan again, but if that's what I need to do to push the seal out guess I will, but not looking forward to that assuming I can even get to it.

Advice?

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 Post subject: Re: need help w/ a crusty a$$ seal
PostPosted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:01 am 
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RodneyWright wrote:
Advice?


Ass seal? I'd contact your proctologist.


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 Post subject: Re: need help w/ a crusty a$$ seal
PostPosted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:11 am 
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Have you looked on some of the E30 forums to see if you can find the .pdf version of the Service Manual?

I have a feeling that the pan has to be dropped, but I would try and find that .pdf version and enjoy the exciting reading it will bring you.

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 Post subject: Re: need help w/ a crusty a$$ seal
PostPosted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:22 am 
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RodneyWright wrote:
I've bent my picks and I can't get a small screw driver in far enough to wedge the seal out.


Any chance you can screw a sheet metal screw into the seal and get it out with a slide hammer?

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 Post subject: Re: need help w/ a crusty a$$ seal
PostPosted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:13 am 
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Vincent Keene wrote:
RodneyWright wrote:
I've bent my picks and I can't get a small screw driver in far enough to wedge the seal out.


Any chance you can screw a sheet metal screw into the seal and get it out with a slide hammer?



Unless it's one of those new "nano" slide hammers, I don't think 1.25" clearance will work.

Rodney, Which seal is this that you're trying to replace? is it the selector rod seal? (you mention that, but didn't say that was the seal in question)




Bret


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 Post subject: Re: need help w/ a crusty a$$ seal
PostPosted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:19 am 
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My stiffness is only an illusion
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BretLuter wrote:
Vincent Keene wrote:
RodneyWright wrote:
I've bent my picks and I can't get a small screw driver in far enough to wedge the seal out.


Any chance you can screw a sheet metal screw into the seal and get it out with a slide hammer?



Unless it's one of those new "nano" slide hammers, I don't think 1.25" clearance will work.

Rodney, Which seal is this that you're trying to replace? is it the selector rod seal? (you mention that, but didn't say that was the seal in question)




Bret


Yes, the selector rod seal. Towards the front of the tranny pan and on the drivers side. Very little room to work w/. I've gotten pieces of it out, but not much success so far. Can't get a drill bit in there for a hole to pop it out. I don't want to score the shaft or the casing and cause another leak.

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 Post subject: Re: need help w/ a crusty a$$ seal
PostPosted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:44 am 
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Vincent Keene wrote:
RodneyWright wrote:
I've bent my picks and I can't get a small screw driver in far enough to wedge the seal out.


Any chance you can screw a sheet metal screw into the seal and get it out with a slide hammer?


Wow, is that all you have to say regarding working on a BMW? You feel ok?

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 Post subject: Re: need help w/ a crusty a$$ seal
PostPosted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:47 am 
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A pick is the only way to get it out.

You can just tap a new one in over the top of the old one. It's worth a try if you can't get it out.

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 Post subject: Re: need help w/ a crusty a$$ seal
PostPosted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 1:22 pm 
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if you can get to it, you can try tapping the edge of it with a small flat head screwdriver and getting out of round and then pull it out that way!! just an idea.

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 Post subject: Re: need help w/ a crusty a$$ seal
PostPosted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 2:36 pm 
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jeremy gast wrote:
if you can get to it, you can try tapping the edge of it with a small flat head screwdriver and getting out of round and then pull it out that way!! just an idea.

This method seems to work best for me when working in a tight spot.

Assuming the seal is being held captive by a hard piece, that needs to come out anyway.

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