Many years ago we designed a machine with a different hydro pump and found shaft seal leaks to be a problem during testing. One day I get a call from a dealer mechanic monitoring a customer validation machine who said oil was leaking from the flywheel housing. I made the three hour flight there, wiped the oil off with my finger. Black engine oil, not my problem. Call my boss who said I can’t stop there, find out where the engine is leaking. Huh??? It can only leak into the flywheel housing from one place, the crankshaft seal. In order to speed things up I started to help my mechanic. He said stop, go get yourself a drink and sit there and watch. Tomorrow morning when the new seal arrives you’ll be back in Minnesota and I’ll need to remember how this thing goes back together and I can only do that if I take it apart. The problem was the seal. I called my contact at engine division who asked me why I’m bothering with that. The seal hasn’t changed in eons and as much as they don’t like it, it’s the best seal available and every once in awhile one starts leaking. That’s why the customer gets a warranty.
