348 Front timing cover strange weld

Hello everyone, yesterday I realized when I took out the lower timing belt sprocket that the bearing was cover with a strange epoxy weld. I asume this is a technique for preventing oil drips??
Is this a common procedure?

Kind regards
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No, not common at all, in fact its malpractice. Possible scenario is that at some time in the past the seal was leaking and someone did not want to pay to have that bearing and seal replaced, so they siliconed it (poorly at that) then sold the car.

It should look like this. Which by the way is mine, taken recently as I am rebuilding it, that seal was leaking and was replaced 36 months ago.

 

What was forgotten was the o-ring that lives inside that bearing race on the cover.

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sjd

 

When mine was leaking, it had the O-ring, it was just weeping slightly and it still had the roller bearing so it was OEM, noticed it when I was checking/replacing that bearing that fails. It was coming out anyhow so no issue. Those things tend to get worse over time.

 

First of all thanks for all the replies!!!!
I removed the weld and apparently this car has the new bearing type and no sign of leaks… should I go ahead and change it anyway?

regards
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Please educate me. Is it possible to identify by looking at the bearing to see if it is the updated one without removing the front cover? I've tried by looking at posting pictures but can't tell. Thanks.

 

If you yanked on the inner race when extracting the bearing just put a new one in as the new ball brg is not expensive

 

The TSB update bearing is block side. IIRC, there's a supercede part number bearing in the cover...but it's not as critical as the block side one.

sjd

 

No that’s no something you see often on these cars

And probably should not be a common practice on any car

I know you will be replacing the bearing , o- ring and seal keep a eye on it for leaks

I would like to say and think that the previous owner and mechanic who did that probably just want a extra layer of protection

If any other reason then that then it’s just a butcher job




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1) That specific bearing in the cover has a TSB to replace, Hill makes it.
2) The actual roller to ball bearing update is behind that cover in the block it self, you have to remove the oil pan and timing cover.

 

So my bearing is the one to be replaced/ recalled? I have no previous records of my car

 

Thanks guys for the above replies. I was pretty sure the cover needs to come off to verify but I thought I would ask. I have an upcoming major and haven't been able to find out for sure the TSB has been completed on my car so I will have them go inside to see. Both the Ferrari dealers that serviced my car before my purchase don't have the old records in their system anymore.