Main Seal leak

[Phast04]

Hey Everyone,

I'm a new owner to a 74 Thing that my wife was given after her father passed and there is an oil leak from the main seal i believe. I haven't ever worked on an air cooled engine and looks like a big challenge for me to drop the engine and replace that seal. My question is while I'm in there what else would be good to replace and any links that i could use a reference would be a huge help. Once i get this project going i'll post pics and make a separate thread but I'm in the stage of collecting as much info as i can get at the moment.

Thanks,

Adam

[Semper_Dad]

If you are going to drop the engine then it might be good to have a clutch disk, pressure plate, and throw out bearing standing by.

There are various methods of removing the flywheel. I prefer the more civilized method of using a torque multiplier (Torquemeister). There are a few other tools that make the operation a bit easier.

There are quite a few good videos on youtube on replacing the seal.

Good luck.
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Walküre Restoration Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737492

[mondshine]

This British guy makes some entertaining videos which you might find helpful:


Link


Link


Link


Link


Good luck, Mondshine

[Wildthings]

What makes you think the main seal has failed? Is your clutch chattering bad or slipping? It is kind of normal for there to be some dust laden oil building up under the bellhousing as oil just slowly gravitates to the lowest part on the engine-tranny package. If you are getting enough oil to drip, I would clean things up and use fluorescent dye in the engine oil to see where its coming from

[Phast04]

I assume it would be the main seal by how much oil I lose when driving it in the neighborhood I live. Only for about 3-5 minutes twice a week. Shifts well but just the amount I lose. I will try the dye as I am still getting as much info as I can on how to work on these things properly before I dive in.