The same thing just happened to me after working on a Tecumseh. Most likely it was caused by crud around the bottom of the seal getting into it when moving the shaft up and down. I believe I've read, but forgot, that it's important to clean around that area. Removing the seal was very difficult for me because I tried to do it with the engine attached to the deck...at first, that is. Bad idea. Dismount the engine and take it to a workbench. Make note of how deep the seal is seated with respect to the surrounding base of the oil sump before you remove it. Then pry it off with a screwdriver, slowly working around the edges, using a piece of wood or something else as a fulcrum. Take care not to nick the shaft or the sides of the well in which the seal sits. In my case, I had bent the metal lip of the seal so badly, I had to alternately punch it down and bend it back until it began separating from the walls of the well. Finally, after thinking I had really gotten myself into a fix, it did "pop out". While at it, I then rolled up and stuffed some carbide paper, 320, 400 and 600 grit, in the well, backed with a paper towel, and hand cranked the shaft to polish it and remove some surface irregularities (which I'd like to think were not caused by me, but who knows). If I had it to do over, I would try what I described earlier, mainly, removing the engine for better access. If it weren't going well, I might try very carefully drilling some small holes, thread some screws, and then pull it off flywheel-style. There probably is a special tool made for the Briggs - Tecumseh has one - but from what I've read, generally speaking, a screwdriver should do the trick. A cheap plastic coupling pipe from the hardware store was used to drive the new one in. You'll no doubt get much better advice which I'll also be interested in...but the leak was stopped. Jim .

Best of luck!

Hi all, I am working on a motorcycle engine with various problems ... It is now running reasonably well... However the engine has a slow oil leak in which the crankcase will empty itself onto the floor which will take about 2 months. (no its not a Harley :) I suspect there is a hairline crack in the cases and I am wondering if any of you know of some type of liquid sealant which might be dumped into the case, sloshed around, and then emptied out, followed by letting it dry for some period of time. I few years ago I helped someone seal the gas tank of an antique 50 Merc using this process. I am wondering if that might work with my scenario. Although I fear that I would get sealer into the oil pump pickup... Your thoughts are greatly appreciated - thank you.

A friend, who is a very experienced tech, just had this problem. Turned out the engine PTO bearing was worn out, I had not heard of that in years. Walt Conner