Missing slinger
 

While putting on an oil slinger today I got to thinking that this would be something that could easily be forgotten. Not having it in place would increase the chance of the crank shaft protruding too far and not allowing the pulley to be pulled tight. What other troubles would a missing slinger cause.
Has anyone found an engine that ran without one for many miles? Would a missing oil slinger cause premature engine failure?

Re: Missing slinger
 

It could cause a front oil leak, as well as the front pulley being loose when the nut is tight.

Re: Missing slinger
 

We have taken about 350 engines apart over the last 8 years and have found 3 or 4 without slingers. So a missing slinger is not common but it happens. I ran an engine without one for a few years with a modern neoprene seal and had no leaking.
The missing slinger would not cause premature engine failure. The problems are as Tom states in the previous post.
Good Day!

Re: Missing slinger
 

I've found missing slingers on 2 engines, and I don't do a lot of them. One of those was also missing the large spring that holds the dist drive gear in place! Both engines had a few miles on them.