All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

I am making steady progress on the rebuild of my 51 F1. One thing is driving me crazy-all of the tiny little fluid leaks!

The rebuilt steering box drips about a drop every 3-4 days.
The rebuilt 3 speed sideloader has a very small leak at the back where the countershaft and the reverse gear shaft penetrate the housing-about a heavy drop for each hour of run time.
There is a small leak at the oil pan to block-about a drop a day.

Everything is rebuilt with new gaskets. I used a thin coat of RTV (for gear oil) at the rear end, transmission, and steering box gaskets. I have torqued every bolt to spec.

So-are these little leaks common? What do you all do?

I want to take things back apart and reseal and/or replace the gaskets, but I wonder if that is a fool's errand?

Thoughts and opinions and experiences?

John

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

Good Grief! You're talking about a drop or two a day!!!! I doubt if Henry ever made a car that didn't leak more than that. If he did I never had one. Where talking flat heads.
My F-150 doesn't leak a drop but my shoeboxs both have cardboard under them at both ends.

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

All of my early Ford vehicles drip a little oil here and there. Nothing severe just typical drops. I too place cardboard under them to protect the garage floor.

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

You know it's a Ford if you have drip pans or cardboard on the garage floor!

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

Old Fords remind me of when I used to fly in Chinook helicopters in the Army. They leaked hydraulic fluid in the cargo hold, when I asked the crew about it they said don't worry, when it stops leaking then you have a problem.

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

An elderly gentleman at a gas station watched me pouring a quart of oil in my avatar (pre-overhaul) and said "It's a Ford.....if it ain't leakin' or smokin' it's empty."

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

I would just call it a "Rust Prevention System" and get on with my life.

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

Saves your chassis and floor pans :D

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

Hi Everyone, John, in a word, Yes they are common.

I don't expect to be able to drive away from a dry parking spot.

It doesn't help, but in the days these cars were new, nobody had a concrete parking place, all garages had dirt floors.

Also in generations prior to the Flathead, vehicles leaked even worse!

When the new clothes washer showed up I was happy, but even happier to salvage the box!

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

Old Fords mark their spot. Just like the owners leak a little with age.

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

If you have an old Ford and it ain't leakin..............you are outta oil.

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

Thanks fellas for the voices of experience!

I kinda thought that the leaks were normal but wanted to be sure before I decided what to do with them. Which is-leave them be.

Got lots of cardboard, so I'm all set!

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

Many new Ford (and other brands) dealers in the 50's Gave buyers a drip pan with their name embossed in it to keep your garage floor clean. You can still buy them without the dealer's name at any parts store.
John

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

Now I know why the old driveways were two concrete strips with dead grass in the center.

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

Yup sounds all normal to me.. "If it aint leakin' its got no oil in it!"

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

QUOTE=Steves46;1312719]Now I know why the old driveways were two concrete strips with dead grass in the center.[/QUOTE] I never thought about it that way before, but you might just have a good point there! Bill

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

There should not be anything leaking out of the top of the box unless it's over filled.
Believe that the F1 box dimensions are the same as 51' Merc.
Shaft dia. 1-1/4", box C'bore- 1-11/16".
If that's the case then you can remove the pitman arm and install an
(SKF# 12336 oil seal)

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

It's not leaking at the pitman arm shaft, and it is not overfilled. I'm running 90 wt gear oil, and I think it seeps at various spots-the gasketed covers and the adjusting bolt cap. It's all sealed with the RTV and torqued to spec. After all that I've read I do expect it to seep a little unless I switch over to the Cornhead Grease.

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

The John Deere "cornhead grease" otherwise called John Deere Multi Lube has provided me with excellent no leak results.

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

I had that drip out the steering gear, as Seth has stated the cornhead grease replacing the 90W does the job.

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

Like the old Harley's , It's just marking it's spot!

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

If you think old cars are leakers, you ought to check out old aircraft engines. They require a tray under them to catch the drippies. It it ain't leaking then it's in need of oil.

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

If you look at original dealership showroom photographs, you will see drip pans under all of the brand new Fords on display! They leaked when they were brand new. Actually, I think you have done a stellar job in minimizing the leaks. I wish my Ford V8s only leaked a few drops every now and then!

Re: All of the @#$%ing Little Leaks!
 

I seriously laughed out loud reading this. AND I do remember my grand parents drive had no grass where Paw parked the Buick Roadmaster. I'm new to the flatty and have a few small leaks, and was kinda concerned till reading this. I have tractor parts places close by, i'll get me some cornhead grease. And now I dont feel so bad.