Clutch cover seal

[rlux4]

I'm putting the new tranny back in! Now I have another "well, duh." The bell housing has a seal in the center, it seals at the tranny main shaft. I got all new parts, chutch, release bearing, flex joint, and so forth, but I didn't even think of this seal. I'm asking for a general concensus. The existing seal looks really good. no cracks, very piable, and clean. I sure want to get this back on the road. Do I put it together with this (very good looking) seal, or hold off and wait for a new one to get shipped?
Can you guess what I want the consensus to be?
Thanks fellow fiaters.
Ron


EDIT: Never mind. I went out to the garage to admire my new tranny and the part that has the seal was taped to the main shaft, with the new seal. Thank you Jon Logan.

[pope]

glad you found it....always install new on big jobs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rlux4]

Pope, you are much too logical and sensible. That's exactly what I didn't want to hear, (even though I knew what the answer should be.) Thank you, but luckily I don't have to test my patience.
Ron

[pope]

Thats not logic, its experience. I cant tell you how many times I was under that car with the trans on my chest, having to lift it up with one arm and trying to screw in the bolts with the other and trying to get the spline to match up.

[manoa matt]

Be very carefull when installing that oil seal into the bell housing. Before you do anything get an accurate measurement of where the origonal seal is installed in the bell housing, depth wise.

When I replaced that seal I had to do it several times. The input shaft tapers down about 1 inch after it leaves the gear box. If the seal is driven all the way till it bottoms out in the bell housing then the seal will be on the tapered part of the shaft and won't seal properly.

[rlux4]

Thanks for the heads up Matt. The one I'm talking about is the one that has a cup-like base and a shaft that comes up from it that the throw out bearing slides on. The original was bottomed out though, and never leaked, so I have it together the same way.