okay, I got silicone drying on my Opti and need an answer asap if someone can help! The little round rubber piece that goes underneath the Rotor and around the 'nipple' that sticks out in the middle of the Opti...I could not get it on for the life of me! I ended up breaking both of my seals i had, one from my old opti and one from my newer used one...Can i install the opti without this? I have silicone protecting the opti all around it..so is this seal very important or should it be okay? Shoebox? Thanks guys!

 

I guess I will have to be dense tonight and say "I don't know what you are talking about".

 

He's talking about the two o-rings on the optispark drive mechanism that insert into the camshaft.

When I took my opti out, they were completely disintegrated. Not real sure what they are for either...

 

If it is the 2 o-rings on the opti shaft that goes int the cam i have been told it is a further effort on the late opti design to reduce noise thus false knock. The o-rings just keep the shaft tight so it dont flop around when the bushings in the opti get worn. Dont know how important it is but the few times i have done optis i replaced or used the news ones that came with the opti or gasket set.

 

He's talking about that rubber seal piece thats goes between the rotor and the top of the optical wheel shaft center [I believe it seals oil, etc. out from working it's way up thru the drive shaft to opti where the driveshaft teeth engage in the opti].. the 2 I have here in the parts box have oil/rust on the INSIDE of them, so I do feel they 'serve a purpose']
it's an 'unvented opti' only part..
I have a spare one if you need one[used, but 'pliable']
Just need a few bux to cover shipping, etc..
Charlie

 

oops sorry i guess i need to engage my brain before i put my mouth in gear! I just made the connection he was working on a unvented opti

 

sorry guys..shoulda explained it better but i was in a hurray out the door..I almost installed it without it..but its always better to be safe than sorry We all know how fun it is to reinstall an Opti, over and over again
Mtrhd..yes you're right, thats the exact piece I'm talking about..basically the Rotor goes right over it when you bolt that on..Both of mine are now broken...I used a flathead to force it around the center piece thing..and it sliced them both up. Is there an easier way to mount that rubber piece?? Its literally almost impossible! The good thing about old ones is they arent as strong and easier to force around..bad thing is they arent as strong LOL..
I just want to make sure I do it right since this is the fourth time I've taken the Opti off in a few months...Maybe somewhere deep down inside I really enjoy installing, uninstalling, and reinstalling an Opti.. ......
Anyways, its' literally smaller than a stamp..how much would it cost to ship something 3/4" x 3/8"? lol and maybe ship it in a little wedding ring box? Im sure I can just buy one from the dealership..that piece probobly isnt more than 5 bux I'd assume..(then again...it may be $425..who knows )
Just stick it in an envelope
Thanks guys, I'm still debating whether or not to install one...I mean I AM sealing the entire Opti pretty much with silicone..dont see how rust can 'easily' find its way in now...I just figured it may have helped create friction when the center thing spins..helping the Rotor spin easier too..but then again..the Rotor is attatched by two screws..so I suppose I can rule that out

 

I believe your error there is trying to 'stretch it around' something.. it just LIES between the rotor and the top of the optical disk wheel thing.. it doesn't stretch around anything?
It keeps oil [rust? I see on one] from working it's way thru the space between the opti DRIVE SHAFT and into the opti..
The dealer won't have that part either.. they don't sell individual opti pieces..
If you want i can send you a pic of where /how it goes..
Charlie

 

Both of the Optis Ive now taken apart had it 'tightly' around the center piece underneath the Rotor..So if what you're saying is true and you just put it down lightly without stretching it...maybe the Rotor somehow does that on its own after it starts spinning...? But I do know for SURE both were around it tightly..thats why I tried so hard to get it back that way. Maybe I can just not put one on..Like I said..I have moisture proofed the best I could with some water tight blue silicone that should help a considerate more than the stock gaskets. If you're correct and it just is ment to be left loose sitting there and then the Rotor placed gently over it..I'll have to get ahold of one from a damaged Opti somewhere thats like free or $10 used or something. (was laid off recently..bout 4 weeks ago and I have ZIP to my name and believe me..the bills are piling up! )Thanks for the replies!

 

I am right..
It isn't in there 'loosely' tho.. and no, it doesn't go AROUND the circular part on the top of the opti wheel..
It compresses between the rotor, and the top of the optical wheel shaft..
ALSO note, that in any I have taken apart [and I have taken 'several' apart!]the rubber was 'stuck' on the TOP of the metal opti shaft part [probably from heat?] I can even see the mark where they were stuck to the TOP of the shaft not around it.. [I can send pics if you need em]It measures [the top of opti wheel shaft ridge] 21/32.. inside of rotor measurement is very close to that also.. it won't FIT "around the center piece underneath the Rotor.." but if you want to believe it does, I can't change that..
I looked at one last night, and what I'd do, if I were you, is get a piece of small hose or rubber tubing [it can even be SOLID rubber] and cut a piece to fit, [slightly 'tight'] and put that in there..
Again, it's purpose, is to keep oil/dirt out from weeping up between the drive shaft, and the optical 'wheel' joint.. [without it, there's a possibility of oil/dirt getting in there..capillary action? etc?] and then flinging onto the optical wheel [and the optical sensor part inside] I would definitely put something in there.
Is the opti you have a GM unit?and are you finding dirt/oil inside?

I could still send you one, if you can't find one, but I'd just 'make' one out of a piece of vacuum hose etc.. save you time..

 

thanks for the info..very helpful
yeah I can see how you're right about it 'seeming' that it would stick..I suppose the high heat would infact make it seem like its tightly seated around the center piece..I wish I had known before forcing both and now having none..maybe I can superglue one? lol
There really wasnt any oil/dirt inside..but there had been moisture I know for sure..there was MAD rust everywhere. My old one with 145k mi on it wasnt rusted AT ALL...this one supposedly had 3k and was badly. So I actually used some of my old components...but again..there really wasnt any dirt.
The reason I didnt just 'seat' the seal in there is because I figured if it was supposed to be tight..when the Rotor spun, it would move that seal around and onto the center piece and get in the way of any spark. So..now I know! I have some hose from my TB bypass...the 3/8"? I think..that went into the TB..Maybe I could use a small part of that? thanks again, big help

 

Yes, I'd say a piece of rubber hose etc cut to fit snugly[not loose, but not TOO tight] under the rotor would work fine.. make sure that the rotor fully seats when you screw it on.. even a solid piece of round rubber would work..

 

incase anyone ever is in this same situation..I did end up 'fabbing' one from the 90 degree boot off a plug wire (part that actually goes onto the spark plug). Its the perfect size..all i had to do was 'peel' alot of the rubber off (exact way you'd peel an apple) until it was thin enough all the way around to fit inside the Rotor..then bolted the Rotor down The inner part was a perfect fit! I had to replace these plug wires anyways cause two have slices in them. So..after doing some R&R on my Opti and changing out wet/rusted parts for clean/dry ones..we'll see how much money I saved by cleaning and water proofing my Opti. If it works..I will have spent ZERO on my Opti to fix it Thanks for all your help guys, Mtrhds Wish me luck..after I have enough money for some good plug wires...(still unsure of MSD or Taylor, or whatever..)...I can go ahead and slap everything back on and fire her up. I hope this fixes all my stumbles and she actually runs perfect again..its been awhile!!! Lates!

 

you can find the o-rings at Advanced auto parts...i went there today to get a new timing cover gasket and i had to get the whole front end kit....it was 18.00ish and the o rings were in it...good thing to because i also needed them. When i installed them i put some lube on them so they would slide into my cam with out binding.

 

We're talking about the rubber seal under the rotor on unvented opti's, not the rubber Orings on a vented.. but it's good info you posted anyway..