While we wait for a part, let’s do some seals
Thanks for all the comments and encouragement! Bradfordwhite, you can’t really see in the photo but I have a couple of foam mats laying under the front of the machine that are soft and roughly 3/4 inch thick. I’ll be sure to be more careful with the baseplate like you mentioned. So far no dents or scratches.
Since I had to order a retainer clip for the clutch, that leaves plenty of time to take care of odds and ends. Importantly is replacing the upper and lower seals inside the center post. Since the spin tube came out absolutely unscathed, the bearings are good and will remain. To remove the seals, I used a heavy duty pick with a pretty sharp point. Tap it between the inside of the center post and the seal so it causes the metal band inside the seal to deform. Then we can grab the old seal and pull it out.
I wiped out some of the older oil and lubricated with fresh 3:1 oil as well as oil the outer edge of the new seals so they will install more easily. I used a similar diameter socket and a mallet to drive the new seals in. One seal in the bottom and a couple of seals in the top. The bearings are so pretty!






Thanks for all the comments and encouragement! Bradfordwhite, you can’t really see in the photo but I have a couple of foam mats laying under the front of the machine that are soft and roughly 3/4 inch thick. I’ll be sure to be more careful with the baseplate like you mentioned. So far no dents or scratches.
Since I had to order a retainer clip for the clutch, that leaves plenty of time to take care of odds and ends. Importantly is replacing the upper and lower seals inside the center post. Since the spin tube came out absolutely unscathed, the bearings are good and will remain. To remove the seals, I used a heavy duty pick with a pretty sharp point. Tap it between the inside of the center post and the seal so it causes the metal band inside the seal to deform. Then we can grab the old seal and pull it out.
I wiped out some of the older oil and lubricated with fresh 3:1 oil as well as oil the outer edge of the new seals so they will install more easily. I used a similar diameter socket and a mallet to drive the new seals in. One seal in the bottom and a couple of seals in the top. The bearings are so pretty!





