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Leaky pushrod tubes 101 basic engine building failure!

tmpusfugittmpusfugit
Ok, I have used stock style push rod tubes with stock VW gaskets which I have installed with only lubricant on the seals, no sealers. Never had a leaker before this one.

However, most recently I built a larger stroke engine (84 mm stroke)in a high deck case so I yielded to the dark side and went with the high end JayCee spring loaded tubes with the supplied seals. 5 of the 8 leak a bunch, not dribbles, not a stream, but certainly in between a dribble and a stream... 3 leak at the block and 2 leak at the head, none leak at the o rings. This engine was very carefully built over several months....no shortcuts, no cheap parts, no cobbles....

I know Jake Raby says "STOCK" pushrod tubes only on his type IV's, this is a type I. Any thoughts as to a possible solution other than removing the engine (mid engine car) which is painful and complex, and removing the heads and going back to stock? Or using sealant on the Jay Cee's with new silicon gaskets....the spring tension is such on these they won't rotate in the gaskets, I can't pull the pushrods out with the engine in the car, so unless someone has a magic wand, it is time to pull the new engine.....

One well experience and very knowledgable party has suggested I have the tubes in backward. The supplier of the tubes says I have them in correctly,....so any other thoughts would be appreciated...otherwise it comes out tonight or tomorrow night...can't dump oil out of my new high tech engine....really stupid problem to have....but I have it big time....the most legitimate suggestion I have as to cause is bad gasket/seal material. Too hard/too old....???

Or those of you that have been bitten by this problem and corrected it, set back and have a good grin on me!
1955 Other/Unknown(Roadster)
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tmpusfugittmpusfugit
Ok, I have used stock style push rod tubes with stock VW gaskets which I have installed with only lubricant on the seals, no sealers. Never had a leaker before this one.

However, most recently I built a larger stroke engine (84 mm stroke)in a high deck case so I yielded to the dark side and went with the high end JayCee spring loaded tubes with the supplied seals. 5 of the 8 leak a bunch, not dribbles, not a stream, but certainly in between a dribble and a stream... 3 leak at the block and 2 leak at the head, none leak at the o rings. This engine was very carefully built over several months....no shortcuts, no cheap parts, no cobbles....

I know Jake Raby says "STOCK" pushrod tubes only on his type IV's, this is a type I. Any thoughts as to a possible solution other than removing the engine (mid engine car) which is painful and complex, and removing the heads and going back to stock? Or using sealant on the Jay Cee's with new silicon gaskets....the spring tension is such on these they won't rotate in the gaskets, I can't pull the pushrods out with the engine in the car, so unless someone has a magic wand, it is time to pull the new engine.....

One well experience and very knowledgable party has suggested I have the tubes in backward. The supplier of the tubes says I have them in correctly,....so any other thoughts would be appreciated...otherwise it comes out tonight or tomorrow night...can't dump oil out of my new high tech engine....really stupid problem to have....but I have it big time....the most legitimate suggestion I have as to cause is bad gasket/seal material. Too hard/too old....???

Or those of you that have been bitten by this problem and corrected it, set back and have a good grin on me!
FM Former Member
If it's leaking at the seal either or both ends, can't you compress the tube enough to re-orient the seals, or at least see if they're split.
will the push rods come out far enough to compress the tubes,swing the inner end down and remove it? What car is this in that you can't pull the pushrods?

When you do change them, unless you pull the heads, you have to use the same two piece type tubes.

Greg B
tmpusfugittmpusfugit
Well, these are 1.4 ratio rockers, the engine is considerably wider than a stocker (over 1" wider than my 2109 across the exhaust ports), the pushrods are aluminum dual tapers from aircooled.net No, the tubes did not come from aircooled.net....

To answer the question "what car is this that you can't pull the push rods" see http://www.pbase.com/tmpusfugit/image/62238138 as well as surrounding photos....it is a mid engine Spyder and I can get 3 of the 4 push rods out one side and the other side 2 of the 4 out...and I am pretty sneaky. I have done some follow up investigation it appears as if I have a CHEAP Chinese copy of a push rod tube. My receipt says it is something that the maker of that part absolutely says it is not.....not made by him. So I guess the lesson to be learned is know your parts supplier well and made in China is not the same as made in America, but we knew that didn't we? Also, I am told the problem may well be the tube end seals / gaskets, they are also likely to be made in China...not what I paid for, but evidently what I got....thanks for the ideas and feedback folks....anybody want to help me pull this thing tonight? And thanks Jake, your comments are noted and appreciated, just not certain between the dual taper aluminum pushrods and the 1.4 :1 ratio lifters that stock will work either
FM Former Member
I'm interested to know who sold you these non-genuine parts, advertising them as genuine? This crap kills the hobby!

The problem is, most consumers in our market are so price concious they almost require that parts store do this (supply on price FIRST, the heck with quality). They don't think they are doing it, but it's all "price price price" vendors have a tough time not caving in to the pressure, because of the "lost sales" that happen if you are $5 more then the next guy. How many times have you heard "it's just as good as the real one, only 1/2 the price.....". Another sucker! But those customers deserve that junk, the ones that THINK they are getting the real deal and get a copy, that's time to take someone to the woodshed!

I think it's appalling, and if they are not what they said they were, you should rat them out, just make absolutely sure they are not genuine before ringing the bell.

John
Aircooled.Net Inc.
tmpusfugittmpusfugit
John, Brandon, just did a long and detailed response to you both, only to find out I had timed out and I lost the response. Short story is John, I will call aircooled.net today and see if I can get http://www.aircooled.net/new-bin/viewproductdetail.php?keyword2=EGS0005&cartid=0627200678209814 sent to me over night.

thanks for your time and thoughts....and I believe the tubes I have are really JayCees, not knock offs as previously suggested....

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