Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Shaft Seal

Seal Leak Detection

A shaft seal should not be changed because of small amounts of oil found on an adjacent surface. The seal is designed to leak some oil for lubrication purposes. A shaft seal should be changed only when a large amount of sprayed oil is found, and only after actual refrigerant leakage is found by using an approved leak detection procedure.

Remove or Disconnect

1. Recover refrigerant.

2. Loosen and reposition compressor in mounting brackets.

3. Remove clutch plate and hub assembly from compressor as described in minor repairs.

Removing Or Installing Shaft Seal Retaining Ring:





4. Remove the shaft seal retainer ring, using snap ring pliers J 5403.

5. Thoroughly clean inside of compressor neck area surrounding the shaft, the exposed portion of the seal, the shaft itself and O-ring groove. Any dirt or foreign material getting into compressor may cause damage.

Removing Shaft Seal:





6. Fully engage the knurled tangs of seal remover-installer J 23128-A into the recessed portion of the seal by turning the handle clockwise. Remove the seal from the compressor with a rotary-pulling motion. Discard the seal. The handle should be hand-tightened securely. Do not use a wrench or pliers.

Removing Or Installing Shaft Seal O-Ring:





7. Remove and discard the seal O-ring from the compressor neck using O-ring remover J 9553-1.

8. Thoroughly clean seal O-ring groove in front head.

9. Recheck the shaft and inside of the compressor neck for dirt or foreign material and be sure these areas are perfectly clean before installing new parts.

Inspect

Compressor Shaft Seal:





- Seals should not be re-used. Always use a new specification service seal kit. Be sure that the seal to be installed is not scratched or damaged in any way. Make sure that the seal is free of lint and dirt that could damage the seal surface or prevent sealing.

Install or Connect

1. Dip the new seal O-ring in clean 525 viscosity refrigerant oil and assemble onto O-ring installer J 33011.

2. Insert the O-ring installer J 33011 into the compressor neck until the installer "bottoms." Lower the moveable slide of the O-ring installer to release the O-ring into the seal O-ring lower groove. (The compressor neck top groove is for the shaft seal retainer ring.) Rotate the installer to seat the O-ring and remove the installer.

Lip Seal Installed On Seal Protector:





3. Attach the seal to the seal remover and installer J 23128-A and dip the seal in clean 525 viscosity refrigerant oil to coat the seal. Install seal protector J 34614 in the seal, place over shaft and push seal in place with a rotary motion.

4. Install the new seal retainer ring with its flat side against the seal, using snap-ring pliers J 5403. Use the sleeve from O-ring installer J 33011 to press in on the seal retainer ring so that it snaps into its groove.

5. To leak test, install compressor leak test fixture J 9625-A on rear head of compressor and connect gage charging lines using J 38100-C Refrigerant Recovery System. Pressurize suction and high-side of compressor with Refrigerant 12 vapor to drum pressure. Temporarily install the shaft nut and, with the compressor in horizontal position. rotate the compressor shaft in normal direction of rotation several turns by hand. Leak test the seal area and correct any leak found. Recover refrigerant. Remove shaft nut.

6. Remove any excess oil resulting from installing the new seal parts from the shaft and inside the compressor neck.

7. Install the clutch plate and hub assembly as described in minor repair procedures.

8. Reinstall the compressor, belt and tighten bracket.

9. Evacuate and charge the refrigerant system.