Leaky pushrod tubes

JMACFLY · Post by **JMACFLY** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 8:58 pm

Last Sunday I went for a little 2.4 hr flight. When I got back I noticed that oil was dripping off the pilot's side step. Ugh! We have had pushrod tube leaks on the left side of this engine for a while now but in the past month things have gotten out of hand. What cost effective fixes are available for a 1400 hour smoh engine.
Have any of you had experience with the two piece pushrod tube ?
Please provide product name and estimated costs.
Thanks for suggestions.
Jmacfly

Post by **GAHorn** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 9:56 pm

Purchase the tool from El Reno and tighten up your pushrods at the rocker box. PN EL-91, $59.50, 800/521-0333

blueldr · Post by **blueldr** » Thu Dec 19, 2002 4:15 am

I think the push rod tubes you refer to are made by the company that makes the red silicone rubber rocker box gaskets. "Real Gasket" or something like that. Friends that have them say they really work and you do NOT have to pull the cylinders of to install or service either end of them. They're apparently very similar to the system used on the IO-360 and the big bore engines.

Dave Clark · Post by **Dave Clark** » Thu Dec 19, 2002 1:50 pm

I've used them and they are great!

wa4jr · Post by **wa4jr** » Fri Dec 20, 2002 2:48 am

Hi John...I recently installed three two-piece pushrod kits from Real Gaskets Tennessee on my 1954 170B and could not be happier with the kits or the end result. I also had severe pushrod tube leaks on #3 and #4 cylinder. Leaks were mostly from the lower area around the rubber boot. Installed the kit on both cylinders. 1st kit took me about 2 hours to learn the process and the second kit took about 45 minutes. I did not have to remove any exhaust or induction components. No cylinder removal. Tight fit during the installation, so much time is spent just looking at the situation and figuring out how to get the tube parts and spring compressor in among the induction spider and exhaust works. #3 and #4 are the hardest with the outer cylinders being much easier with more room to work. BUY the spring compressor he offers you...will save a bundle of time and possible damage to the kit components and has other post work uses as well. After #3 and #4 were done, I then noticed #5 tubes leaking from the rocker box area. Continental folks had a bad day when they designed their tubes...especially that swage fit at the rocker box. What WERE they thinking back then? Put a kit on #5 and my oil leaks are gone with the exception of a generator shaft leak. Use a dremel tool with the little cutoff wheel to cut the old badly designed pushrod tubes off.

Real Gaskets Tennessee....800-635-7325 http://www.realgaskets.com
$76.50 per cylinder. No need to ever remove cylinder again for pushrod tube service...that is if these new nicely designed tubes ever need service.
Kit comes complete with STC and all gaskets and seals you will need with the exception of a new silicone rocker arm gasket. If you need help or have other questions, just send a private message and I'll be glad to detail my experience...which was a good one.