Output shaft O rings

[RafM]

1972 TC

Currently putting a 352 gearbox back together after a check and overhaul.

There are O rings listed for all models in the parts catalogue, but there were
none present when I stripped the gearbox down.

I'm presuming the are 36mm ID and slip over the input shaft before the oils seal nut is screwed
in place?

They seem a bit pointless, does anyone know why they are there in the first place?

Thanks, Raf.

[Triton]

The ones i have used on my 352 box are  about  29mm  O/D and 4mm thick. They push into the groove on the short splined shaft that the oil seal runs on. It is to stop oil running up the splines and leaking out. Fairly sure that is correct,

[jbcollier]

The parts and workshop manuals are as clear as mud on this point.

In the original Renault application, the half shaft itself is what the output seals runs against making oil sealing easy.

The Lotus application uses the large diff housing bearings to take suspension loads and you have to shim between the half-shaft and the diff housing bearing.  Between the diff housing bearing and the half shaft sits the "seal run spacer/bush" (#10 in your illustration) and the shims.  The seal run spacer has a groove on the inside that pops over the o-ring on the output shaft.  This seals between the output shaft and the seal run spacer, keeping oil from weeping out through the splines.  It is not easy to fit.  I lightly grease the o-ring and use a piece of tubing to drive the seal-run spacer over the o-ring.  It will "pop" into place.

[RafM]

Thanks JB, the manual is indeed as clear as mud, but I'm starting to get the idea.

I have not changed the output shaft bearings, therefore the spacers have not
been disturbed and the old O rings are already in place.

Looking at the manual, I was thinking some O rings went on before screwing in the
locking nut/bearing which caused the confusion.

It maybe a good idea to take the spacers off and replace the O rings anyway. Do the spacers
lever off the splines reasonably easily or would I need to pull the bearing off to free them?

[jbcollier]

If the seal nut is off, they are easy to remove.  Just use a couple of picks or small screwdrivers to pry them out.

[RafM]

If the seal nut is off, they are easy to remove.  Just use a couple of picks or small screwdrivers to pry them out.

Great, thanks...