1931 Buick 60 Series Torque Ball Seal Kit Solutions?

[ctc72961]

Im working on a 1931 Buick 60 Series and need to replace/repair the Torque tube ball seal that is leaking very badly.... no seal kit is available from vendors ….can anyone offer any solutions or remedies or perhaps was able to retrofit later kits to work.....thank you for your help !!

[Bob Engle]

There are no seals in these early 8 cylinder drive trains.  Their  original systems had a leather boot that was to protect the metal to metal surfaces of the torque ball.  These boots deteriorated and dirt and rust damaged the surfaces of the torque balls.  There are no easy solutions.  Finding undamaged parts is next to impossible and the spherical surfaces are difficult to repair.  even as new there was a small amount of leakage.  Most people just put a new leather boot over the ball and accept some leakage.

 

Bob Engle

[Bob Engle]

Here are 50 series junk parts to show the original parts.  If you do this, be sure to put the leather boot on the torque tube before assembly to transmission.  You can see the groove in the transmission torque ball retainer for the leather boot wire clamp.

There have been arguements about high visosity or low viscosity transmission gear lube.  Hi viscosity will leak less around the ball or low viscosity will drain  back into the transmission easier.  My recommmendation is to NOT overfill the transmission  as a high level will impede return of the oil from the U joint.  

 

Bob Engle

[Dave39MD]

My 31 is also leaking at the ball. I put in 140 thinking the previous owner used a lighter weight and there was not much difference. It has slowed down now that the level has dropped. It is about two inches down from the filler opening. Any ideas on how low you can safely run the transmission ?

 

Thanks

 

Dave

[Mark Shaw]

Although I have since sold my 1931-57 Buick, I used SAE 250 gear lube in the transmission and rear end. 

I agree that a rubber or leather boot would solve your issue.

[Charles A Straub]

Torque balls can be sealed using a combination of silicon sealer applied generously to the cap machined surfaces and grease applied to the round torque ball. Hand tighten the bolts, let the silicon set overnite, then finish tightening the bolts the next day. The grease prevents the silicon from seizing to the ball. Works for Buicks and Model A's too. 

Chuck Straub 31-90        straub31@charter.net