Hitchcocks Forum

 Am sure this theme has


 been hashed about before,


 but reassembling this 1950


 Albion 'box for the umpteen


 time to resolve tightness


 issues. As a common


 complaint seems to be


 leaking felt oil seals,


 was wondering whether


 to leave the sealed


 replacement bearings


 plastic on, and let them


 run with the grease that


 presumeably is therein,


 or does this risk early


 meltdown?


 Don't mind eventual


 felt seal seepage if


 the bearings get real


 lubrication when the


 plastic is pried off.


 Thanxs, lads


 Gordon


 


 


 since a common complaint is


 is leaking oil seals

 Gordon,


     I used to pull the inner seal out and let them run in the gearbox oil but the jury seems to be out on what is bestI did 4 boxes earlier this week, 2 oil, 2 grease and I left the inner seal in them all. I guess time will tell

I do as Norm used to do, and peel the inner face out. Seems to work and there are plenty of other places for it to leak!


REgards, Mark 

 


 Thanks, Norm 'n Mark, your


 feedback again. Since had


 removed the chain side


  bearing so many times,


 and removed the outer


 plastic to give the tin


 washer that holds the felt


 tight some space, will now


 leave that as before.


 But will leave the inner


 plastic in, as Norm now


 has done, despite Mark


 suggesting it's removal.


 Kick starter side seems


 less prone to leaking.


 Am grateful for your


 respond on this Catch 22


 issue.  Gordon

Word I've heard is leave them sealed and you'll have no problems with them.

I re-did an Albion gearbox (1942 WDCO) in 2005 using the felt seal and it is fine.  The gearbox oil level doesn't get to that height.  Also the inner shaft should have grooves that control the oil.


 The only leakage I have is at the kickstart bush where it sits in oil.


 


The crankcase breath blows oil onto the chain in that area, so you'd expect to see a drip of oil from the gearbox drive.  Is your oil loss from the gearbox significant?