Pushrod Tubes Leaking

Hi, attempted to fit new pushrod tubes, from Megabug, yesterday. Could not get them all the way in. Tried everything, cleaned up head and block well, lubed new seals with oil, tried me on mole grips with the Misses helping with broom handle force. Would not go in.
In desperation fitted the new seals back with the old tubes. All went in fine, so just as people describe, quite a bit of force from wooden broom handle but nothing excessive and you know when it’s in as you get the sudden give.

Anyway all leaked to same extent as they did before!

Really stuck here. Any ideas?

 

The O-ring groove in the pushrod tube needs to be really clean and all traces of sealant removed from the head and crankcase. The chamfer where the O-ring starts to enter either the head or crankcase may have some burrs, especially if someone in the past has been a bit heavy handed fitting the tubes. If everything is clean and well lubricated you shouldn’t need much force to fit the tubes – but that one in the pic looks a bit battered.

Are all the tubes you have the same length, including the new ones? Check the O-rings carefully too, if they have been cut trying to fit them they’ll leak. You are using good quality O-rings?

 

Thanks, was meticulous cleaning head and crankcase. Seals are brand new and not damaged.

For me the focus is new seals/old tubes went in as would expect but leaked. While new seals/new tubes would not go in.

Does this suggest old tubes too narrow therefore leak. New tubes too wide and therefore won’t go in?

 

Anyone had any experience with this type, which is apparently for 2 litre type 4s? See pic

 

They are tapered seals so type 1, the only reason I would ever fit those if I had a type 1 engine would be if I needed the van urgently and had a damaged tube. Just a few extra places to leak

 

Yes, tapered seals etc that’s what I thought, see attachment though mentions 1979, unless typo?

 

You can’t go off the year of the van for engine parts.

 

I’m pretty sure my issue is quality control.

There no doubt that my current two tubes types must be slightly different in diameter and are unbranded

At least Empi is a brand hopefully with some quality control

 

Years ago EMPI had a half decent name, now its all just Chinese junk

 

I’m trying to find something that’s actually going to fit. Any experience with these?

 

Are they £32 each?

 

Yes, bit tasty! Desperate man...

 

I got the bog standard Just Kampers ones and they were fine...cleanliness and decent quality seals is the answer...if you are sure the new pushrod tubes are wrong, don't presume paying more means better.

 

I would imagine that if the big 2 sold tubes that did not fit we would have heard about it by now

 

Yes, sounds rational. Maybe I’ll go for JK. Just by 4 and try them. 2 week hol coming up in bus, so bit of a panic on

 

Do the new tubes fit with out O rings .?

Personally I like original ones but have heard and seen good things about the billet alloy ones stateside sell

 

Next few days I’ll take out old leaking tubes and check to see if they do fit without the o rings. Good point.

 

I don’t like to see oil drips smoking on the heat exchanger. This must be common though as pushrods often leak.

Is it as dangerous as I’m thinking?

 

If you think the tubes are a different size measure them. The diameter where the O-rings fit is important and the length between the O-rings may be different. Compare old with new.

You seem to be confusing engine type with body type and year. Type 4 engines regardless of when they were manufactured have one piece pushrod tubes. Two piece tubes are for Type 1 engines regardless of when they were manufactured.

No typo; they would fit a T2 Bay fitted with a type 1 engine.

EMPI stands for Every Malfunction Passes Inspection.