I finally got my flywheel/generator/blower back from the machinist Friday, and stayed up late putting everything back together.  I was anxious to test the engine with a balance flywheel, injectors oriented to blow down the intake runners the correct way, and a new rear section to my gearbox that replaced the back-end made up of three individual plates (I turned a single piece that holds a plate bearing, a large roller bearing, a shaft seal and provides for mounting the generator's stator.

Late Saturday morning, I had it all back together, battery charged, and gas in the tank.  Rolled the fuselage into the driveway and cranked on the starter.  Sound of the starter chewing on the tips of the ring gear teeth.  Get out.  Tighten the starter up a bit.  Clear prop!! and some nice smooth turns.  It was trying, but couldn't quite get started in about three attempts.  On the fourth try, it caught and belatedly came to life.  Tickled the throttle a bit, and it sprang to action, the 125Hp@6000rpm load prop spinning a healthy 3000rpm.

The EGT for the rear iron wasn't waking up.  I got out and fiddled with the plugs.  They didn't seem to be flooded, though the top was a little wet.  Cleaned the plugs off with a butane lighter, put the back in and it started right back up, burning rich with the AFR bouncing between 12 and 13.  Oil pressure was strong, and the throttle adjustment met with a smooth adjustment in rpm, even if the engine wasn't running quite as smooth as I remember.

As I was watching the water temps come up to the operating range, I heard the "poof!" and saw the cloud blow out the front of the engine.  I was sure I blew a water line (probably because I had water on the brain right then), but when I got out after quickly shutting down there was a quart of oil under the gearbox on the driveway, and the front seal had blown off.  Adding to the frustration of dashed hopes of a smooth running engine, the forward half of the half-primed fuselage was covered with a spray of motor oil.  I'll have to wash it down with some serious de-greaser before I can finish priming.

A tear-down revealed that I failed to cut the exit oil galley that was integral to the original rear section of the gearbox.  I was pumping oil in at 90psi, and it had now way to get out.  Well, that is, until it made a way.  8*)   Three minutes at the milling machine that's dressed up to look like a drill-press, and the oil now has lost of room to get out.

The question I have is do I need to replace the front and rear oil seals.  I pressed the front oil seal back in, and even added a couple of retainers, as Lynn has suggested;  but, should I replace it with new one, even if it doesn't leak?  I put a rubber hose over the oil inlet, and blew into it.  I could hear it bubble out of the rear seal when I covered the oil outlet.  How much pressure should those rubber seals be expected to contain?