Front wheel seal: Spring facing in or out?

tcamphicar · Jun 9, 2006

Back to my seal installatin on the front wheel.

When I removed the old seal, it had the spring facing out. I tried
to replace it the same way with a new seal but could not get it in
all the way. I ended up ruining the seal! I decided it was in
wrong so I put in another with the spring to the forging which
means the smooth edge of the seal faces out. It went in fine this
way and it appears that the tapered rubber on the seal will match
the spindle.

After further discussion with another Amphi owner, I am not sure
which is correct.:
Smooth size of seal facing out or spring side of seal facing out?

I don't find a clear drawing anywhere to clariy. Does anyone
know?

Thanks,

Captain Terry
The Dinghy Captain

David Chapman · Jun 9, 2006

<table style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" bgColor="#ffffff">
Huge debate about this over the years but the correct way is spring facing out. This is because what that seal does is stop water coming in to the hub - it's purpose is not to stop grease coming out. Spring facing out looks wrong to a mechanic (which is why so many have been fitted backwards) also it's a bit more tricky to fit hub, you need to rotate is as it goes on to the stub axle. 

As was explained, that big seal is in at least 3 different thicknesses so if you have minor pitting of the metal surface of the hub you can put off having it repaired (metal spray and grind back is only way) by using a different size. 

Of course, you probably know, but Amsoil is the only grease that really works well in Amphicar front hubs. It allows you to get 5 years plus out of a set of wheel bearings.

David C in the UK

Terry Cassem · Jun 9, 2006

<table>
David C,

I called Hugh Gordon and he said the same as you: spring facing out. I had the old price list saved on my computer and the seals were almost $26.95 each so I origionally went elsewhere. Now they are $12.95 so I ordered two. His are double lip. I will return the other 3 I just ordered this morning from EB Atmus. Hugh says to get the grease with Moly, Lithiam & Graffite.

Still in dry dock!

Captain Terry



on 6/9/06 11:30 AM, David Chapman at david@manbus.com wrote:

<blockquote>Huge debate about this over the years but the correct way is spring facing out. This is because what that seal does is stop water coming in to the hub - it's purpose is not to stop grease coming out. Spring facing out looks wrong to a mechanic (which is why so many have been fitted backwards) also it's a bit more tricky to fit hub, you need to rotate is as it goes on to the stub axle.



As was explained, that big seal is in at least 3 different thicknesses so if you have minor pitting of the metal surface of the hub you can put off having it repaired (metal spray and grind back is only way) by using a different size.



Of course, you probably know, but Amsoil is the only grease that really works well in Amphicar front hubs. It allows you to get 5 years plus out of a set of wheel bearings.



David C in the UK



</blockquote>

John Friese · Jun 9, 2006

Captain Terry,

The original correct seal orientation was to have the spring side out
but I notice that with the double lip seal that's currently being sold
the second seal is right at the closed side edge of the seal and I
don't think it will touch the hub if the seal is installed spring side
out. By installing the seal with the spring side in you get the use
of the second seal, now running right at the outer edge, and you also
move the location of the original sealing surface to a different point
on the hub. One of my hubs was also a bit worn at the original
running area so I installed the new replacment seal with the spring
side in to get two sealing surfaces on two unused portions of the hub.
It's been that way for a few months now and so far, so good.

John Friese

67 White
67 Red

--- In amphicar-lovers@yahoogroups.com, "Terry Cassem"
<cassemterry@...> wrote:
>
> David C,
>
> I called Hugh Gordon and he said the same as you: spring facing out.
I had
> the old price list saved on my computer and the seals were almost $26.95
> each so I origionally went elsewhere. Now they are $12.95 so I
ordered two.
> His are double lip. I will return the other 3 I just ordered this
morning
> from EB Atmus. Hugh says to get the grease with Moly, Lithiam &
Graffite.
>
> Still in dry dock!
>
> Captain Terry
>
>
>
>
> on 6/9/06 11:30 AM, David Chapman at david@... wrote:
>
> Huge debate about this over the years but the correct way is spring
facing
> out. This is because what that seal does is stop water coming in to
the hub
> - it's purpose is not to stop grease coming out. Spring facing out looks
> wrong to a mechanic (which is why so many have been fitted
backwards) also
> it's a bit more tricky to fit hub, you need to rotate is as it goes
on to
> the stub axle.
>
> As was explained, that big seal is in at least 3 different
thicknesses so if
> you have minor pitting of the metal surface of the hub you can put off
> having it repaired (metal spray and grind back is only way) by using a
> different size.
>
> Of course, you probably know, but Amsoil is the only grease that really
> works well in Amphicar front hubs. It allows you to get 5 years plus
out of
> a set of wheel bearings.
>
> David C in the UK
>

Terry Cassem · Jun 10, 2006

Re: Re: Front wheel seal: Spring facing in or out?

<table>
on 6/9/06 7:46 PM, John Friese at jfriese@mindspring.com wrote:

<blockquote>Captain Terry,

Thanks John,

I will wait for Gordons and see what they look like and also the additional ones from EB Atmus and then experiment.

Thanks for your input!

TC

The original correct seal orientation was to have the spring side out

but I notice that with the double lip seal that's currently being sold

the second seal is right at the closed side edge of the seal and I

don't think it will touch the hub if the seal is installed spring side

out. By installing the seal with the spring side in you get the use

of the second seal, now running right at the outer edge, and you also

move the location of the original sealing surface to a different point

on the hub. One of my hubs was also a bit worn at the original

running area so I installed the new replacment seal with the spring

side in to get two sealing surfaces on two unused portions of the hub.

It's been that way for a few months now and so far, so good.

John Friese

67 White

67 Red

--- In amphicar-lovers@yahoogroups.com <mailto:amphicar-lovers%40yahoogroups.com> , "Terry Cassem"

<cassemterry@...> wrote:

>

> David C,

>

> I called Hugh Gordon and he said the same as you: spring facing out.

I had

> the old price list saved on my computer and the seals were almost $26.95

> each so I origionally went elsewhere. Now they are $12.95 so I

ordered two.

> His are double lip. I will return the other 3 I just ordered this

morning

> from EB Atmus. Hugh says to get the grease with Moly, Lithiam &

Graffite.

>

> Still in dry dock!

>

> Captain Terry

>

>

>

>

> on 6/9/06 11:30 AM, David Chapman at david@... wrote:

>

> Huge debate about this over the years but the correct way is spring

facing

> out. This is because what that seal does is stop water coming in to

the hub

> - it's purpose is not to stop grease coming out. Spring facing out looks

> wrong to a mechanic (which is why so many have been fitted

backwards) also

> it's a bit more tricky to fit hub, you need to rotate is as it goes

on to

> the stub axle.

>

> As was explained, that big seal is in at least 3 different

thicknesses so if

> you have minor pitting of the metal surface of the hub you can put off

> having it repaired (metal spray and grind back is only way) by using a

> different size.

>

> Of course, you probably know, but Amsoil is the only grease that really

> works well in Amphicar front hubs. It allows you to get 5 years plus

out of

> a set of wheel bearings.

>

> David C in the UK

>

</blockquote>

Front wheel seal: Spring facing in or out?

tcamphicar

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David Chapman

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Terry Cassem

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John Friese

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Terry Cassem

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