8v71 blower seals

[mike]

Anyone know how to visually determin if the blower seals are leaking on a 8v71 natural?

 

[Genesis]

Yeah.

Warning - you can be KILLED doing this. Seriously.

Ok, now I've warned you

Remove the airhorn. Insure that NOTHING can be sucked into the blower inlet (including clothing or parts of you!) Start the engine (at IDLE!) and use a flashlight to illuminate the blower endplates.

If the seals are leaking, you'll be able to see the oil.

This does not work with the engine off as the rotors obscure your ability to see the endplate when they're not turning.

This is, by the way, how my shop manual tells you to do it - but note that over on BD there were people who screamed and hollered when I recommended this, instead wanting people to pull the blower and have it tested on a bench, etc (for safety reasons) - never mind that this is a definitive test and takes only minutes!

 

[MikeP]

I have also performed this test just as Karl describes it. As he stated, it's in the DD manual and is the simplest and most conclusive test of the seals. Taking a blower off and testing it on a bench for this purpose is a complete waste of time (and money if you are paying someone to do it).

Crossing the street is dangerous too if you don't pay attention to what you're doing...

 

[Passages]

I agree that the method outlined by Karl is the quickest, easiest way to check blow seal integrity BUT heed the warning! Use the buddy system for this one.

Think of those blower vanes as large, unguarded meat grinders.

 

[Genesis]

The buddy system will only result in a witness covered in pieces of you (and a person to man the mop and bucket for the remains) if you screw this one up.

Seriously, its kinda like working around a tree chipper. If you get sucked in, you're finished.

On the other hand anyone who can't see the obvious danger before they hit the start button shouldn't be crossing the street unattended.

BTW the same applies to open turbocharger intakes, with the modification that the "hole" is slightly smaller. Not that it matters much given that a turbo is typically spinning at 100,000 RPM!

Working around running machinery is something you're either prepared to do or you are not. There is really no middle ground on this, and it irritates me greatly when people talk about certain procedures being "dangerous" compared to others. Believe me, if you get a piece of clothing caught in a running engine pulley there won't be a lot left of whatever piece of your body that clothing is attached to!

Modern engines tend to have guards around virtually everything. I've yet to see a Detroit rigged in that fashion - there are plenty of moving parts on most Detroits - in "fighting trim" - to do you a real disservice if you get too close!

 

[Traveler 45C]

You and your flashlight should be the closest objects to the blower intake. Anything else might get sucked in. Make sure that the surroundings are cleaned up of anything that can be ingested. Before hitting the Start button, make sure that you have good footing and practice moving into the necessary positions to see both endplates. You may have to change your footing to do so depending on your set up.



Good Luck!

 

[TedZ]

We do this all of the time and we use a nice piece of screen cloth (for aggregate screening i.e. 1.5" or 2" squares, 3/8" wire) cut to fit and laid on top. You can rest your hands (i wouldn't) and your flashlight on the screen and it doesn't obscure your vision a bit.

MUCH SAFER!!!

Ted

 

[Passages]

Ted, good suggestion BUT as Traveler warned, be damn sure the area is clear lest a nut or bolt fall in through the screen.

I think we've beat the safety issue to death. Just be aware of the risks, take prudent precautions and you should be fine.