Oil leak from pushrod base

[Davereif212]

I have a 59 pan with solid lifters. I'm getting oil pushing from the tappet block at base of pushrods on the intake and exhaust rods of the front cylinder. I have replaced the gaskets with the blue silicone ones with no success. Any ideas? Thanks.

[jdpan]

Those can sometimes be a bear to seal... I'll sometimes use an oil resistant sealer like Permatex 2B on cork gaskets, never had much luck with the blue ones. Make sure the springs are plenty strong and the lip on the bottom of the tube has no cracks or creases as well..

[james]

Had the same problem after push rod tube was rechromed. The chemical or acid used to remove the old chrome made a imperfection at the base lip. This was after replacing the cork gasket and it still filled up with oil. I found it by close examination. Took some 220 sand paper on a glass like surface and went back and forth holding the tube upright and smoothing out the base of the lower lip until it was squared off flat again. No more leaks, no sealer needed just the cork gasket.
Patience and a magnifying glass.

Jim

[49er]

the blue ones leaked on mine.

[Hubbard]

Make sure your breather tube is open

[panhead_kicker]

Make sure all tube surface are clean and smooth. I've used cork and blue silicone, but had the best luck with the James black rubber push rod seals.

[Cotten]

Dave!

As jdpan pointed out,
the condition of the bottom of the tube is critical.
Inspect for warpage as well as blemishes.

Greasy corks work for me, but I always replace fatigued cover springs.
Modern repops seem stiffer than originals to me.
Most folks just stretch out the old ones.

You may also want to run a wire down the tappet block's drain holes.

Good Luck!

...Cotten