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What is the best way to prevent possible leaks when rebuilding: painting (enamel) a shaft that goes through an oil seal, or leaving the metal bare?

Bare smooth rust- pit free shaft, dont paint it may break down an leave a gummy deposit on the seal lip and leak. When driving in a seal w/ a tool before installing place a couple dabs of grease under the seal lip to keep the garter spring from jumping out when the seal is impacted by the tool. Always be sure any oil seal is equipped w/ a garter spring some cheap offshore seals that you may get often doesnt use them an thats a sure leak.

N1VSM wrote:What is the best way to prevent possible leaks when rebuilding: painting (enamel) a shaft that goes through an oil seal, or leaving the metal bare?

Like gwalker said, bare, rust & pit free is the best. The next question is how long will it be rust free, the answer is not long. As soon as surface rust becomes a factor, the rough texture will shortly ruin a new seal as the shaft slides to & fro, leak reappears. Answer, replace shafts with stainless steel custom shafts, problem of a rusty/rough shaft is over for life.