Pull the sparkplugs and put a socket on the crankshaft pulley bolt and turn it by hand. It should rotate easily with moderate resistance from the valvetrain. Try this first so we can rule out engine drag. It may be electrical, such as incorrect timing or missing engine ground strap.

Chris

 

hello and thanks for the response!
I should have mentioned that after I first
installed the braided seal, with the engine on
the engine stand, I could barely turn the
crankshaft with a wrench (I mean it was hard!).
This is what first made me suspicious that the
seal was causing the engine to drag.
I checked the timing and it is close, as you
suggested and I also put a brand new ground stap
on.
I have truly run out of ideas, short of dropping
the pan and pulling the seal out. In which case
I don't know what to replace it with.
thank you.

 

Its not a seal, it a bearing. You got to tear down again. something is too tight and if that the case not be lubicated. I bet it is a crank journal bearing.

brownbagg

 

Tight rope seal drag is common.

You didn't trim the ends close enough, it swelled too much when compressed.
Pull the pan and rear cap, trim it a little more, just a tad. When you take off the cap you'll see where it's too long, it'll stick right out. Rotate crank 1 or 2 turns to make sure that was the bind. If you pull the other caps, do it only one at a time, then retorque, else you distort the crank.

Lightly lube the shaft where it touches the seal with graphite assy lube.

Forcing it to start now will only burn the seal from heat, failing soon..

If you have to pull the upper half out, use a Sneaky Pete, available at parts houses. $6.00?

 

Thanks for your help, I'm going to try your
suggestion and hopefully I will be able to
see something wrong with the seal. I
appreciate your help!

 

Mine leaked from the start. I tore it down and replaced it with a 2 piece rubber one from Felpro. checkers got it for me. look on the back of your old bearings and make sure that you didn't accidently install the wrong sizes. a standard bearing in an undersize journal will make life miserable. Hope this helps.

Lenny in Colorado Springs
67 Jeepster 225 3 speed(building me a T18 now!!)