Kawi blowing main seal out

[Floridalandcare]

Small vert shaft Kwi (15 hp i think) keeps blowing the seal under the flywheel . Put a new 1 in it and same thing within 1 minute oil comes dripping down the block . Any ideas.

[MowerMedic77]

Upper main bearing/bushing failed.....time for a new engine, depending on the application you can save some money by replacing the kawi with a single cylinder kohler.
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[pugs]

You could fix it by replacing the oil pan/bottom cover and associated seals/gaskets. But if the bottom one is blowing out, how long till it starts doing the same on the top one? And the top one means replacing the block which means new engine time.

[piston slapper]

A model number would help.
If its a twin cyl then its probably like MowerMedic said.
See how much you can move the flywheel side to side.
I was gonna say to check the endplay, but someone may have called it axial.
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[Floridalandcare]

FH451v BS04 E/N FH451VA73037.

The thing, is there is no play at all on the flywheel . Im pretty sure it has a blown head gasket . Cooling fins are all clogged up .

[dutch1]

Won't claim it's not the seal that is leaking but have you checked the breather cover gasket-- a common oil leak on Kaw V-Twins?

[piston slapper]

I think you nailed it Dutch.
If it leaks down the back, its the flywheel seal.
If it leaks on the heads and down the front, its the breather plate gasket.
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[dutch1]

Slapper, it was worth a shot. After FLC indicated there wasn't any side play in the upper crank and the seal had been replaced, it was about the only conclusion the old fart could come up with.

Upon initial reading, I wasn't sure whether he meant that oil was blowing by the seal or that the seal was blowing out of the block seal recess.

A very high percentage of the upper block leaks on Kaws, that I have observed, are either breather cover leaks or head gasket leaks. It's fairly rare that I see an upper crankcase seal failure without either the breather cover or head gasket leak( or both on occasion) leaking also.

[piston slapper]

Most people dont know how to check for flyweel endplay.
You have to use a large screwdriver or the like and pry against it.
The stator magnets will hold the flywheel centered when trying by hand.
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[piston slapper]

In any case. The majority of these leaks are a result of poor maintenance.
Dirt and debris build up and cause the engine to overheat.
If he gave the engine a good cleaning, it would be apparent where the leak was coming from.

BTW. Had about a gallon of turkey gravy saved from T day.
Should be good for a few weeks.
SLAPPER
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