Ironhead Oil seepage from acorn nut on Rocker Box

[SHAKY DAVE]

or it could be the rocker box gaskets to the head which usually leak more then the shft nuts.could be makin the shfts look like they are leakin.pullin the boxes and replacin all the gaskets is my way of doin this.and how much oil is this motor leakin?someday we may find out

[needspeed]

The danger of using more torque than necessary on the left side nut is not the failure of the 7/16 threads. It's the possibility of cracking the hardened washer on the inside of the cover.

A shaft diameter of about .553" being drawn by the nut against a washer with a 7/16 hole leaves very little surface area to bear against the washer.

[sungod]

Originally Posted by JB in NC

Yes, but the OP's complaint is that the shafts are leaking on the left side, not at the o-rings. That was confusing to me at first as well.

Jim

Sorry for any confusion I created. I focused on the o ring replacement.

[rapierce]

Originally Posted by SHAKY DAVE

or it could be the rocker box gaskets to the head which usually leak more then the shft nuts.could be makin the shfts look like they are leakin.pullin the boxes and replacin all the gaskets is my way of doin this.and how much oil is this motor leakin?someday we may find out

It's not the Rocker Box gasket, I can see the oil stream from the acorn nut. I was thinking it was an o-ring, but it may be the washer that is leaking. I rebuilt the top end a few months back with all new gaskets and o-rings. I could have sworn there were o-rings on the left side, but I'm probably remembering wrong.

Maybe the washer didn't seat properly or I may have over tightened it.

[JB in NC]

Originally Posted by rapierce

It's not the Rocker Box gasket, I can see the oil stream from the acorn nut. I was thinking it was an o-ring, but it may be the washer that is leaking. I rebuilt the top end a few months back with all new gaskets and o-rings. I could have sworn there were o-rings on the left side, but I'm probably remembering wrong.

Maybe the washer didn't seat properly or I may have over tightened it.

If the shafts are spinning, the nuts aren't tight enough. See my earlier posts.

I always put a little liquid teflon pipe thread sealer on the shaft threads when I rebuild these, to forestall oil seepage.

Jim

[rapierce]

Originally Posted by JB in NC

If the shafts are spinning, the nuts aren't tight enough. See my earlier posts.

I always put a little liquid teflon pipe thread sealer on the shaft threads when I rebuild these, to forestall oil seepage.

Jim

That's a good idea, I'll do that if I can get them off.