National axle seal question

[Hossenfeffa 49]

Which is the proper way to install these seals. They are different than the originals that cam out.Number side in towards bearing or out?Number side up is on the right

Edited August 30, 2014 by Hossenfeffa

[Geno 1,929]

They usually go in the way they came out, with the lip facing a certain way.       The newer cars and trucks are putting rear crank seals in what we would call backwards, the lip facing out.  Messes me up. 

[stevasaurus 22,882]

I would take a look at the rubber seal.  If it is straight, it will not matter.  If it is angled, I would put the angle toward the inside.  Can't tell in the pictures.  On my boat trailers, the numbers are out. 

[Catmanii 36]

I would take a look at the rubber seal.  If it is straight, it will not matter.  If it is angled, I would put the angle toward the inside.  Can't tell in the pictures.  On my boat trailers, the numbers are out. 

+1

[rmaynard 15,628]

I don't know what seal you have there, but the SKF brand axle and brake shaft seals that I have been using have a spring on the inside. If you see a spring, that goes in.

[Hossenfeffa 49]

The seal angles down towards the number side. No spring.

[squonk 41,444]

I would take a look at the rubber seal.  If it is straight, it will not matter.  If it is angled, I would put the angle toward the inside.  Can't tell in the pictures.  On my boat trailers, the numbers are out. 

YESSSSSSS!!! A man who actually takes his boat trailer wheels apart once in a while ! When I worked at Napa, every summer holiday weekend I worked, along with the Mercrusier parts I would get out all of the common trailer wheel parts we had. We had a guy once who's wheel fell off while the trailer was in the state park launch. They had to drag it out. He really got mad when I told him I needed the wheel to get the race numbers or buy a whole hub. He went fishing for the wheel. 

[stevasaurus 22,882]

Bob's right about the spring.  I enlarged your picture.  You want the numbers out for that seal. 

[Hossenfeffa 49]

To late, went in with the numbers facing in, we'll see if it leaks.At least the hubs will come off easier next time. Also, next time I will look for a seal that is easier to tell which way it goes in

[WH nut 553]

It will leak

[Hossenfeffa 49]

With a rear discharge deck, whether the seal is installed correctly or not, your right, sooner or later it will leak

[WH nut 553]

Its going to leak because its installed wrong. Nothing to do with the deck.

 

 

Any Job big or small, do it twice or not at all!!

Edited September 1, 2014 by WH nut

[Geno 1,929]

I would be interested to see if it leaks.      I've seen plenty that were installed backwards and didn't leak.

[doc724 925]

Here is the reason why you put the lip in or out.  If the fluid to be sealed is pressurized, put the lip in toward the fluid.  The pressure will work against the seal to make it tighter.  If you put the lip out and it is in a dirty environment (like a tiller), dirt, string and wire will eventually get under the seal and it will leak.  Tillers by the way have two seals per shaft, one facing in and one facing out and they are installed in a preferred order.  WH transaxles have the lip always in.  That way you can get behind the steel shell with a dental pick and pry put the bad one and install a new one without splitting the transaxle.  Not so easy to do if the lip is facing out.  Also, you will need a special install tool to bear on the steel shell only and not the rubber if you put the lip facing out

[Hossenfeffa 49]

Well the seal was installed with the lip facing in,  so we will see. Mowed for two hours today, no leak so far.

[specialwheelhorse 174]

There is a difference in seals, another one of those you get what you pay for things.

some seals have two lips. check it out. Might be available in this case, might not.

mjght even cost a dollar or two more.