Oil gallery tube reinstall

[Shoebox]

Yesterday I brought home my Merc engine block which I had hot tanked, baked, shot blasted, mag, and pressure tested (WEW). Something I had never done was removal of the oil gallery tube. I always cleaned in there but never removed. My shop firmly believe in its removal so out it came. It will be awhile before I do much with this engine but any words of wisdom on reinstalling this tube? I see it's threaded at both ends and in the middle, I imagine it threads back in making sure the mid hole lines up with the block hole underneath, but any comments most welcome. Thanks.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Shoebox

Yesterday I brought home my Merc engine block which I had hot tanked, baked, shot blasted, mag, and pressure tested (WEW). Something I had never done was removal of the oil gallery tube. I always cleaned in there but never removed. My shop firmly believe in its removal so out it came. It will be awhile before I do much with this engine but any words of wisdom on reinstalling this tube? I see it's threaded at both ends and in the middle, I imagine it threads back in making sure the mid hole lines up with the block hole underneath, but any comments most welcome. Thanks.

[38 coupe]

My memory is JWL discussed removing and reinstalling these in his book, if you have a copy you could check there. I think he reported the "threads" were more to make surfaces for the cast iron to stick to than for threading of the pipe into the block.

[Mart]

I've never taken one out, but are you sure it's threaded? Not just grooved? Hard to see in the pics. I think you have to knock or press it in. It would be worthwhile asking the machine shop how they removed it. I have seen the subject discussed before either here or on the hamb so more info might be out there. I seem to remember someone saying to remove it you tap one end and pull it out. It might be worth looking to see if one end has been tapped.
I will be interested to read any other comments.
Mart.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Mart

I've never taken one out, but are you sure it's threaded? Not just grooved? Hard to see in the pics. I think you have to knock or press it in. It would be worthwhile asking the machine shop how they removed it. I have seen the subject discussed before either here or on the hamb so more info might be out there. I seem to remember someone saying to remove it you tap one end and pull it out. It might be worth looking to see if one end has been tapped.
I will be interested to read any other comments.
Mart.

Dose this drawing help?

[Shoebox]

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Originally Posted by 38 coupe

My memory is JWL discussed removing and reinstalling these in his book, if you have a copy you could check there. I think he reported the "threads" were more to make surfaces for the cast iron to stick to than for threading of the pipe into the block.

I DO have a copy and will check what JWL had to say. Thanks

[Shoebox]

Originally Posted by Mart

I've never taken one out, but are you sure it's threaded? Not just grooved? Hard to see in the pics. I think you have to knock or press it in. It would be worthwhile asking the machine shop how they removed it. I have seen the subject discussed before either here or on the hamb so more info might be out there. I seem to remember someone saying to remove it you tap one end and pull it out. It might be worth looking to see if one end has been tapped.
I will be interested to read any other comments.
Mart.

Mart,
You're spot on, I looked at the front end of the tube and it was tapped inside. I gave my guy a call and he said they tapped the inside and threaded in a bolt and used a slide hammer to pull it out. I guess then it's grooves not threads at those points. Thanks much.

[L-head]

You might want to check and see what thread the used to pull the tube out with. If I'm not mistaken, the plug that goes on the timing gear side of the tube is a pipe thread, not a "bolt" thread.

[Karl Wolf]

I have removed three of these, I agree with others, 1/8" pipe.
Putting it back in, I would draw a parallel line on the side of the tube to show the alignment of the holes for the oil. (This would allow the correct rotation at entry).
I welcome any questions helping clarity,

Karl

[aussie merc]

shoebox & coupe please the full title and author or the book please and the print house if possible and shoebox my take on the tube if they took it out with out instruction to do so they can put it back Similar tubes ive come across are single use as they where an interference fit to hold them in place and drawing them out destroys that interference

[Zeke3]

Originally Posted by aussie merc

shoebox & coupe please the full title and author or the book please and the print house if possible

The title of the book is, “Flathead Facts”, author John W. Lawson 2008. There is no mention of who printed the book. There are pictures of the oil gallery tube on pages 98-100, but I have not found any discussion yet on removing or reinstalling the tube. It appears the orientation of the tube is critical for oiling the main bearings. I will update this if I find more discussion of the tube.

[richard crow]

if you look for trouble your sure to find it. let sleeping dogs lye i have rebuilt hundreds of flatheads & never removed the rod just cleaned it good