Engine: what cause the groove in the crank hub on a 289 v8

[mw2013]

ok the awful leak was coming out of the timing cover felt crank seal and worsening; i am putting a neoprene kit from fairbourn, i took stuff apart last coupla days. phil says his kit will have a redi sleeve, to hide the oil grooves.

i know it's sort of moot, but what cause the wear groove on the crank up, was it touching the timing cover?

[studediesel]

The spiral groove was there to move the oil back into the engine. It’s called an oil slinger.

[bezhawk]

The groove sits behind the felt seal, and is supposed to pump oil away from the felt as it rotates. It's designed that way along with the cupped washer that also deflects oil. No part of it should actually hit the felt.

[Studebakercenteroforegon]

Also called an oil return groove. It’s there on purpose.

[JoeHall]

I think I see the groove you are talking about; in the first pic; not the spiral slinger groove, but the circular groove near the end. Never seen that before, but it does not belong there, and looks like it may interfere with the slinger groove's function. I'd definitely smooth the its edges before attempting to install the red-sleeve, lest it snag and not slip all the way on.

[mw2013]

I think I see the groove you are talking about; in the first pic; not the spiral slinger groove, but the circular groove near the end. Never seen that before, but it does not belong there, and looks like it may interfere with the slinger groove's function. I'd definitely smooth the its edges before attempting to install the red-sleeve, lest it snag and not slip all the way on.

Mr Hall, nails it again, yes fully aware of what the spiral factory cut is, good to see that piece of engineering; i tough it was a grove going around once, it's actually a spiral, but yes it's the deep gouge ground into the circumference of the seal surface, it;s hard to see.

perhaps the timing cover was tighten before the hub was put in? i did some reading and the hub suppose to go in first and then the cover tighten , this way the seal is centered?