Worn crank spacer?
 

Iam doing some R&R to an engine that I will transplant into my newest car, an '82 330TD with a blown engine.
While I have the engine from the donor on the stand, I am inspecting, cleaning and replacing what is bad. I pulled the front engine seal last night because it was leaking.
There is a spacer behind the seal and in front of the crank timing chain gears. According to my MB shop manual for this engine they say to replace the spacer if it "feels" warn... WTH? How does it feel warn? Also can the spacer be pulled without the use of the puller?

-Kevin

spacer can be heated with a torch.
Get behind it with a small chisel..
If the seal is leaking then usually the spacer is worn too..
Spacer comes with the OEM seal...

Benzcrusher,

The wear, if any, would be a groove from rubbing against the seal. If you can feel a groove, its worn. If not, you don't have to replace it.

You might get a new spacer anyway because it makes it easy to get the new seal back in if you don't remove the old spacer. If you replace the spacer, you can slide the seal on the spacer and install both together.

P E H

Great info, any tips regarding sealant? RTV?

Kevin

That sleeve/spacer is a slide fit on the crankshaft and you certainly don’t need a chisel to remove it. The F/E oil seal seals on the O/Dia of the sleeve and the inner face of the balancer so make sure the new oil seal is pressed in square and flush. As PEH says there will be a groove where the oil seal runs. There is no need to buy a replacement as the oil seal sits about 5mm off center and the sleeve can be fitted the other way round. Like all spares from the MB agent that sleeve is ridiculously expensive BUT take note which way round it is when you remove it!

All the ones I have ever changed have not slid off....
If they did then something would be wrong...

Well I am yet to come accross one that was tight but you may need to trim any burrs from the two dowel grooves with a swiss file.

I think we are talking about two different things..