Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith
Richard F.
The rear seal set up is a new one on me, would explain the copious amount of water, flooded from all points.
Rich.
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Hi Rich,
The crankshaft has an acme thread machined into it behind the flywheel flange, this "winds back" any oil from the rear main. The thread is in close proximity to the bearing cap and block, but not touching of course. With crankcase pressure of a running engine this should be sufficient to keep any floodwater at bay, if wading. When you stop the engine is the problem, I have seen several Ferret engines ruined, where they have gone into water and forgotten to fit the belly access plates. The Stalwart saga was a classic, although the driver knew to leave hull bottom open if vehicle was left outside uncovered, he managed to bog it until it sat on its belly. As it was a long wet period it quickly filled and when recovery was able to get to him, and the engine was started, the water and oil was quickly whipped up and the oil tank was unable to cope with the extra volume of fluid, so it ejected the mess out of the tank!
The Acme thread idea is not uncommon at all with quite a few using it at the time.