SEALING COVE

SEALING COVE 3217 0010 75 is usually tucked away, keeping the grease or hydraulic fluid where it belongs. It acts as a barrier, stopping dirt and water from getting into a bearing or a cylinder, and just as important, stopping the good stuff from leaking out. Without it, you'd have a mess and premature wear on other, more expensive components pretty quick.

When this seal starts to go, you’ll usually notice a weep or a slow drip around the shaft or housing it’s supposed to protect. Sometimes it’s just a little sheen, but it’ll get worse. If it’s a hydraulic seal, you might see a slight pressure drop or even some sluggish movement if enough fluid is bypassing. And if it’s letting dirt in, well, that bearing isn’t going to last much longer, and you’ll probably hear it getting noisy before too long.

Changing these out isn’t usually a huge job, but it’s one of those things you want to do right the first time. Make sure you clean the bore and shaft surface thoroughly before installing the new one; any burrs or old crud will just tear the new seal. And don’t forget to put a bit of clean grease or fluid on the new seal’s lip before you push it in – helps it seat properly and prevents immediate damage on startup. A lot of guys forget that little bit of lube.