Super A Rear Seal Retainer

[Dale Finch]

I have removed the clutch, flywheel and rear seal retainer from my '48 SA, and after cleaning things up for reinstallation, I realized the two retainer plates are not flat...slightly deformed where the bolts were tightened down on the gasket. What is the best way to make these peices straight/flat again? Since the gasket is only a fiber one, thus thin, I think this really does need to be corrected. I would appreciate some advice.







Dale Finch

[Bigdog]

Dale - you could have a machine shop mill them flat or you can take a piece of window glass, lay a piece of fine emery paper on it, shoot a little oil on it and then work the surface of your retainer around the piece of emery in a figure 8 pattern until the surface is flat.
The piece of glass is to give you a flat surface to work on.

[Dale Finch]

Thanks Bigdog...I have done that before with a water pump face, so I expect I should be able to do it again. Forgot about that.

Another question...do you guys EVER shut down your computers??!!! Thanks again and "talk" to you later!

Dale

[Barnyard]

Another question...do you guys EVER shut down your computers??!!! Thanks again and "talk" to you later!

Dale

No, and we sleep with one eye open!

[Mr E]

Another question...do you guys EVER shut down your computers??!!! Thanks again and "talk" to you later!

Dale

No, and we sleep with one eye open!

Dale,
Sometimes I suspect Bigdog reads the post as they are being typed in on someone's computer! Otherwise, I do not know how he could possibly answer so quickly.

[Don McCombs]

He was sleepin on this one. Took him 17 minutes to post a response.

[Dale Finch]

OK check out my new post

Dale

[Dale Finch]

I went to the shop today intending to "flatten" the retainers with emery paper, but on closer inspection, I think it needs too much metal removed. I decided to pull the other set from the parts SA, and they were worse. They had been sealed with Silicon all the way around. Anyone know if heat and clamping in a vise or some other method could take out the warp? Anyone have a flat set? I will trade 2 warped sets for one straight one!!!

Dale

[Bigdog]

Dale - if you have a flat surface to work with such as a drill press table or similar you can try clamping the retainer on the table with a washer under each low spot (where the bolt holes are according to your pictures) You can then take a large C clamp and gently pull each high spot flat. You should be able to get enough of the warpage out of it to fine tune it with the emery.
This is basically the same procedure we use when flattening carburator halves.

[Dale Finch]

I think I will try that! I'm going to the shop this morning. Perhaps I will practice on the worse pair first, just in case!

Also, I am going to make the suggested "grill straightening tool" from a cold chisel ground down, and will practice on the worse grill to see if that is an option. Will let you know how that goes!

Thanks again Bigdog!!

Dale

[mvhighcrop]

Another solution is to find the largest flat file that you can and "rough it in", then fine tune the flatness that has already talked about.
Good luck,
Buddy

[Dale Finch]

Thanks to my heeeeero, Bigdog, I have one set almost finished!! As suggested, I clamped the pieces on a 1/2 steel plate with washers under the screw holes, one section at a time. Worked around each area a little at a time, since I didn't want to break off anything. Then I used water, 220 grit wet-or-dry emory paper and lots of elbow grease; around, and around, and ... See for yourselves the results. I may go back Monday and do a bit more sanding, but there is a flat surface all the way around for the gasket.

TOP HALF - first showing the warp, then the high areas, then progressive photos










BOTTOM HALF








Sorry if I posted too many photos, Bigdog! (Never should have taught me!!)

Monday's job, pull the PTO. My question of the night is, when assembling the shims back onto the PTO, do you use a thin film of some sealant? There is no gasket on either group of shims. Have a good night and thanks for the input.

Dale