rear crank seal insertion

[Biffdiff42]

Hi - I am trying to replace the rear crank seal on my Rover V8 sd1 motor circa 1978 and have removed the old seal and gone through the steps to clean up etc the shaft and applied oil to the shaft and inner rim of the seal. I am now struggling to get the new seal on to the shaft despite a lot of pressing, tapping, gentle levering with a plastic bike tyre lever and a lot of bad words, but no joy with getting the inner rim of the seal started the shaft. I have removed the gear box and am working under the car so do had a great space to work in. Any tips or advice to get the seal in to place would be much appreciated.

thanks

Jonathan

[ChrisJC]

It is a bit of a nightmare.

The easiest way I have found is to remove the sump and rear main bearing cap! Then fit the seal, followed by the cap. Of course this is easier when building the engine rather than as a repair.

I have got the special Land Rover tool, but that didn't help me much.

I have tried using a punch and tapping it home, but that just bent the seal, so that wasn't successful at all.

Maybe find / machine a suitable drift that is basically a piece of tube ?

Chris.