Oil Leak Remedy Sought

[hddennis]

Been dealing with oil leaks on my 1917 Maxwell till I can't stand it anymore !! I'm thinking about pulling engine and doing a complete gasketing rebuild. I've discovered three places that are shaft leaks and would like advice of possible remedies. One is both sides of a 7/8" shaft that goes through the timing case and the other is a similar shaft holding reverse idler gear in the transmission case. Since these originally had no seals I'm wondering about having a machine shop groove the cases for an O-ring  but worry about the quality of todays O-ring being able to survive this use.

 

Anyone have any experience with this option and/or other ideas?

 

Howard Dennis

[Spinneyhill]

I have an O-ring on the steering box output shaft. Also on the differential pinion housing. No leaks. The o-ring will survive as long as it remains lubricated and works on a smooth concentric surface.

 

Can you add a lip seal on the outside? I suppose that would look wrong.

[hddennis]

8 minutes ago, Spinneyhill said:

I have an O-ring on the steering box output shaft. Also on the differential pinion housing. No leaks. The o-ring will survive as long as it remains lubricated and works on a smooth concentric surface.

 

Can you add a lip seal on the outside? I suppose that would look wrong.

Thanks Spinneyhill, I won't know if there is enough meat or room for a lip seal until I get this apart but thought I'd check on O-ring remedy in case I couldn't use O-ring seal.

 

Howard Dennis

[John_Mereness]

Printers pans and oil is cheap - just something you get use to with early cars.

 

[Ben Bruce aka First Born]

12 hours ago, John_Mereness said:

Printers pans and oil is cheap - just something you get use to with early cars.

 

 

 Spot on, John. I spent DAYS working on the gaskets on my engine in an attempt to assure no leaks.  You know the results!

 

  Ben