Clutch Rod Oil Seal on 84 VF500F

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by oldpip, Jul 10, 2016.

  1. oldpip

    oldpip New Member

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    I am just putting the finishing touches on an 85 500 interceptor basket case that has been in my garage for 12 years.
    When I bought it I was told that the only problem was with the carbs and the fact that it hadn't been ridden in 15 years.
    I went to start it for the first time and noticed oil pouring out of the left side. On further examination I realized that there was no oil seal for the clutch rod behind the slave cylinder.
    I thought it would be a simple case of buying a $4 oil seal, slipping it in and I would be good to go.
    I have read through the factory manual and can find no instructions on replacing it.
    It now appears that in order to do this, I will have to drop the engine and split the engine cases to replace. This is because there is a cast lip on the outside of the opening that is designed to hold the seal in place making the opening a smaller diameter that the OD of the seal.
    The seal appears to be rubber covered steel so that it can't be bent to insert it in the opening without ruining it.
    Someone please tell me there is a simple solution to this. I have had the engine sitting on a bench for 12 years and if I had known it was missing I could have easily fixed it, but now it is going to be a real pain in the ass.
    I can't believe that Honda would design something this stupid when a circlip would have made it a 10 minute job.
    I have attached a photo of the open with the lip and the backside of the seal on the clutch rod.
    IMG_1458.jpg IMG_1461.jpg

    Any help would be appreciated
     
  2. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    This might a long shot, I put some carb boots in laquer thinner to soften and swell them up. Maybe someone has a better chemical to soften and swell the rubber, that you could put in the crankcase that wouldn't hurt the engine.
     
  3. Oldtime

    Oldtime New Member

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    Only other option is grind down the lip. Slip the seal in and vtr it in place. If done right it should hold. If done wrong you will be buying another seal and trying again. Remember once that lip is gone there is no getting it back easily
     
  4. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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  5. oldpip

    oldpip New Member

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    Thanks. after much discussion with various technician that I respect, I decided to pull the engine and split the engine cases to replace the $4 seal. Crazy. I am only hoping that I can do it without taking off the top end.
    Right now I have the engine out and flipped over. I am just struggling with removing the stator. It has a very weird thread size for the puller bolt. It looks like M18 x 1.5 but not sure. I sure as hell don't want to have to spring for a Honda tool from a one time repair
     
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