MD rear main seal

[farmallcubkid]

I am putting a rear main seal in my Farmall M Diesel and I can't seem to get the bottom half of the retainer off. Do you have to take the oil pan off to remove it? It has been sitting in 2 pieces for about a week and I want to finish it to rake hay with. Has anyone replaced one of these before? Thanks in advance.

[farmalldr]

@farmallcubkid, Yes you will have to remove the pan.  The pan bolts to the flat plate that is under the lower seal retainer.  Be sure to check your pot metal seal retainers for flatness where they bolt up to the block.  They are known to warp.  They can be sanded flat on a piece of glass or something you know is flat.  Have fun and good luck.  Dennis

 

[farmalldr]

Here is a picture from the service manual.  Hope this helps.    Dennis

[1967806]

I second what farmalldr said about the flatness. Did a 300 awhile back, twice, because it leaked after I got done. seal retainer was very out of flatness around the bolt holes. I laid a piece of sandpaper on a flat metal plate and clamped the paper over the ends of the metal plate to hold it still and smoothed it up that way. Worked the second time.