Push Rod Tube Seal Clamps

Post by **Bruce Fenstermacher** » Thu Jul 31, 2003 7:22 pm

I was told by somewone, perhaps Cleo Bickford that there is a newer style clamp to replace the wire spring clamps on the push rod tube seal. These newer style seem to closely resemble the screw/band type "hose" clamp found at the local air boat hardware store

Seriously does any one know more about this type of clamp on the push rod tube seal. I haven't had a chance to check my parts manual so please don't flame me for that.

Dave Clark · Post by **Dave Clark** » Sat Aug 02, 2003 12:43 pm

Bruce

My old C145 with 500hrs SMOH had one of those new style clamps. Since I was selling the engine I decided to replace the pushrod tubes on that cylinder with the new Real Gasket Co. ones that eliminate this problem. I didn't want to pull the cylinder.The hose clamp style does not stay tight like a spring type does and keeps squeezing the rubber down.A good temporary fix but that's about all. I really like the new Reall Gasket system. Oh yeah, the last time I replaced a cylinder on a Continental the spring clamp snapped in two when I tried to slip it on. Of course this was done after the cylinder was torqued (as should be) so then the choice was to pull the Cylinder or get the new PR tubes. In this case I pulled the cylinder because I couldn't wait but when it went back on I had an extra spring clamp on each PR tube in case one broke. I cut them off with a Dremel after all was together.

Post by **GAHorn** » Mon Aug 04, 2003 4:43 pm

A quick and dirty and easy fix of this problem is to use heavy, twisted safety wire and clamp the rubbers. It's really tempting to re-use clamps since they appear so simple, but they're also cheap, and a way to avoid the problem is to always use new hardware when re-assembling an engine.

scott · Post by **scott** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 4:28 pm

The Real Gasget kit is the ONLY way to stop the pushrod leaks permanently.
It can be done with the cylinders installed but takes less time if you install them when they are off, naturaly.
I have changed a lot of Continental jugs and never had the spring clamp break but when you install the jug the pushrod tubes want to become unseated at the outside if you move them. since this is a metal to metal seal, and the only reason that oil does not pour out is the interference fit I recomend re-swaging them at each installation. The tool is expensive but when I don't do it they allways seep.
At the bottom I lubricate the rubber with Fuel lube. This helps but unless you install the Real Gasget kit you will allways have a leaker unless perhaps you run it out of oil. That is the way of aircooled 50 yr old technology. Keeps the firewall from rusting.

scott

Alterfede · Post by **Alterfede** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 8:00 pm

Seems that my c-145 is going to leak some more time. The only things i was suggested to do is to put some sealer on the pushrod tubes in the out part of the rocker box. How many hours that would help.

philnino · Post by **philnino** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 11:07 pm

I looked into the REAL gaskets and they come to about 80 bucks a cylinder. Are they really worth it for $480 or am I missing something? I hate to drip oil but I sure can buy a lot for that kind of money.

Post by **GAHorn** » Wed Aug 06, 2003 4:32 pm

Fede, the tool which corrects (re-swages) the loose/leaking pushrod tubes at the rocker-box is not that expensive. Univair sells them for about $35.

N170BP · Post by **N170BP** » Wed Aug 06, 2003 9:42 pm

Now you tell me....

I paid something like double that for the same tool
from El Reno.

Bela P. Havasreti
'54 C-170B N170BP

Alterfede · Post by **Alterfede** » Thu Aug 07, 2003 2:18 pm

Thank for the info george!. Using that means to take out the rockers and the pushrod tubes, does it? Because i never did that before.
Another thing, When i changed some valve cover gaskets, noticed that there was some kinda sealer, burned!, around the pushrod tube, but in the inner part of the rocker box, i took it out just using my finger. Any comments on that?

Post by **GAHorn** » Fri Aug 08, 2003 12:50 am

Whoops!

Bela, you are correct. I meant to say El Reno. And I didn't realize they'd gone up since I bought mine about 3 years ago. Sorry.

(But does that make you feel a bit better, Bela?)

N170BP · Post by **N170BP** » Fri Aug 08, 2003 6:28 am

Water under the bridge....

$35 or $75, not a great deal of difference in the aviation
world....

The guy next door to where I keep my airplane once saw
me cleaning / polishing the underside of my cowling (just
aft of the stock exhaust stacks/pipes) and proceeded to tell
me that I didn't have a hair on my _ss unless I bought a set
of Bartone pipes. I proceeded to whine about how they
cost several hundred dollars and the guy blew up! Said
Bulls!@#, they're only a hundred bucks or so....

Turns out he bought his set a *long* time ago, and didn't
allow for inflation!

Bela P. Havasreti
'54 C-170B N170BP

OTIS · Post by **OTIS** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 6:35 pm

I installed Real Gasket pushrod tubes this year. Love them, not leaks.

Gerry
N8072A 1952 170B