Jack,
The seal definitely faces the center of the car. IMO the DPO was lucky not
to have a bearing failure if he felt was packed around the bearing. The
felt is designed to ride against the flats on the spindle and keep dust,
dirt, water etc., from entering the back side of the bearing. The felt will
catch a lot of dirt etc and if installed backwards will mash those into the
bearing rather than protect it. It does compress upon installation so there
must have been a fairly good seal between the metal seat of the seal and the
spindle. Even if no dirt entered into the bearing cavity, the felt alone
could have caused bearing problems.
Pete
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-triumphs@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-triumphs@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of JPG
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 8:46 PM
To: triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: TR3A Front Hub Oil Seal
I need to double check the correct positioning of the front hub oil seal
on a TR3A. Haynes, the Service Manual and another source all say that
the oil seal is to be positioned with the felt facing toward the center
(centre) of the car. I just took the back wheel bearing off and found
that the apparently DPO had the felt facing out. The back of the bearing
was embedded in the felt. Because it apparently worked fine that way for
thousands of miles, I began doubting the manuals. So in my confusion, I
turn to the wisdom of the list..
What's correct? If the felt is facing the center of the car or inward
then the back of the rear bearing is against the metal washer that holds
the felt, right?
Thanks in advance
Jack Gleason
1959 TR3A
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