Replacing Rear Main Seal on VDrive Setup

[Daniel]

A few months ago we replaced a long block on one of the engines on our Tiara 35 Express.  During the installation the mechanic had a hard time installing the rear main seal and I believe it was due to it being the wrong seal.  He then purchased another seal which had a sleeve in the middle which I believe helped him install it easily and then proceeded to install the engine onto the boat.  

Ever since the new long block was installed onto boat I have seen drops of oil fall below the area where the rear crank shaft is located.  Since this is a V-Drive the drops are falling onto the shaft and then dripping to the floor.  At first when I mentioned it to the mechanic he said the oil must be coming from the CCV but we recently installed the EnviroVent and the oil continued to drip in this location.  Now when I pointed out the continuing leak to the mechanic he said he could not identify where the leak is originating as there was no oil below the oil pan or anywhere else and said it might be old residual oil might still be around.  

I am now starting to think this leak is coming from the seal and that maybe damage was done or the seal was incorrectly installed.   I mentioned the thought to the mechanic but he says he doesnt believe it is from there.  My question is this – can this seal be replaced without removing the engine from the boat since its on a vdrive configuration?  Can a vdrive transmission be seperated from the engine while the boat is in the water?   I am thinking the mechanic might be avoiding the subject as he doesnt want to be responsible for a large repair like this.  

 

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[Daniel]

It was the rear main seal.  I believe the long block came with a seal but the mechanic had told me the seal is a temporary one that is used for transportation and needed to be replaced.    The long block was a cummins reman one – not sure if that makes a difference.  

[Tony Athens]

Not quite following your post…  Are you talking about rear main seal on the engine?  If so, why would a new Cummins long block need a new seal installed during the installation?

Or,  are you talking one of the TWO main output seals of the v-drive?

 

 

[Daniel]

6bta 5.9

PS – the engine is a 6bta 5.9 M3 and the transmission is ZF HSW800V

[Author]

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