Harmonic balancer seal and sleeve

[Michael Buonaccorso]

Hi everyone - I am working on my 64 Fleetwood and recently pulled the front cover to do the timing gear and also replaced the timing seal with a new one while I had the cover off. 

While I was at it I also decided to install a repair sleeve for the harmonic balancer since I figured it was worn down on my 110k engine. The sleeve went on pretty easily with some light taps from a hammer. 

Today I began reassembly, using a harmonic balancer installation tool to make sure it went on easily. While i slowly screwed the balancer in place, it appears the lip of the new shaft seal caught an edge and a small section started to bend in. I stopped, removed the balancer, and am now waiting for a new seal to come in tomorrow. Before I do the same thing again...has anyone experienced this before? It seems to me this was either a one time fluke (caught a random edge), or the shaft is slightly off center to the bearing, and the repair sleeve exaggerate the problem, or perhaps the repair sleeve made the harmonic balancer shaft too large? I can’t find specs in the FSM on proper shaft size. 

Thoughts?

[3ft7bqmb7dryo]

Just bad luck is all. Be sure the sleeve is flush all the way around. 

[Kurt]

I assume you lubed the seal & sleeve with oil, correct?

[Michael Buonaccorso]

I put oil only on the seal surface but yes.

[Kurt]

It's possible that the seal started catching on the sleeve. Hopefully just an isolated incident but more oil couldn't hurt. 

[Michael Buonaccorso]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Got a new seal today and put a ton of grease on the seal and shaft. Went in without any problems!