Oil Leaks (was picture of the week hijacked thread)

[bashibazouk]

I think I caused a swerve in the POtW thread so I figured I'd start another.

My A65 seems to leak at the pushrod tube seals. It doesn't blow too much oil in flight, but it pukes out a fair amount after shutdown. A cursory investigation made it look like replacing those would be a pretty big event, including pulling the heads.

Of course I'd be better served if I carried my overhaul manual on the road instead of my laptop so I could answer my own question by RTFM-ing it.

The A&P who did the last annual suggested loosening the clamps and twisting the seals (cuffs) around on the tubes. I haven't tried that yet.

Josh Brehm

[d.grimm]

Re: Oil Leaks (was picture of the week hijacked thread)

I hate to sound like a broken record, if you are using Aeroshell with the additive (multi-grade) get it out, and your leaks will stop.
Dave

[bashibazouk]

Re: Oil Leaks (was picture of the week hijacked thread)

I've been running Aeroshell straight 80W this winter and am about to switch back to 100W. Might be the thicker stuff will stay in, but it still isn't right that it's leaking.

Josh Brehm

[lfries]

Re: Oil Leaks (was picture of the week hijacked thread)

Is the leak at the base or the head. Mine leaked at the head and they re-pressed the push rod tubes, or whatever it called, and that fixed the
problem.

[Pearson]

Re: Oil Leaks (was picture of the week hijacked thread)

Josh,

Lloyd is right, the tubes can leak at the outer end and run down to where the rubbers are, making it look like that is where it is leaking.

You could remove the tube from the head, but you have to take the push rod out first. There is a tool that you can expand the bead on the tube with which would help it seal better.

I heard of a guy that had this problem who solved it by removing the valve covers and, using his finger tip, worked RTV silicone into the small space around the outer edge of the tube where it comes through the head. Obviously you would need to take measures to prevent any of the silicone from getting up inside the tube. Maybe you could stuff a rag or paper towel into the tube around the pushrod.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Oil Leaks (was picture of the week hijacked thread)

I used a swaging tool to re-swage the steel push rod tubes into the aluminium head, but after so many goes, I got fed up with the continuing weeps.

So I bought the push rod tube conversion kit and installed it. No more leaks! There is no need to remove the cylinders. Don't forget to remove the push rods before cutting the old tubes out! And don't use a hacksaw (the filings could get into the engine...use big bolt croppers).

[bashibazouk]

Re: Oil Leaks (was picture of the week hijacked thread)

Thanks, Robert. That's a nice, tidy looking seal and it makes more sense than swaging into the head.

Don't forget to remove the push rods before cutting the old tubes out! And don't use a hacksaw (the filings could get into the engine...use big bolt croppers).

Yikes. No kidding! I guess you're pretty much committed after picture #1.

http://www.realgaskets.com/files/colorpush.htm

Josh Brehm

[Robert Lees]

Re: Oil Leaks (was picture of the week hijacked thread)

What they don't tell you in the kit is that you need the spring compressor to compress those nice looking springs (naughty of them).

You need to purchase the compressor (I bought two, just to be sure).

Rob

[O.Taylor]

Re: Oil Leaks (was picture of the week hijacked thread)

What they don't tell you in the kit is that you need the spring compressor to compress those nice looking springs (naughty of them).

You need to purchase the compressor (I bought two, just to be sure).

Rob

Squeeze the spring in a vice (whatever you call it on your side of the pond) so that part of the spring sticks out of the vice, one wrap of safety wire, rotate 180 degrees, any other wrap of safety wire, so the wire is holding the spring collapsed. take out, put spring on tube, insert where it belongs, then pull off the safety wires. No need for their compressor. Happy Easter to all, O. T.