How to fix this leak in oil bath air breather.

Propane1

Tractorologist
Senior Member
Member
Was cleaning the oil bath air cleaner on the 51 Ferguson tractor, figuring it was a good thing to do before I start the rebuilt engine in a few weeks.
Guess I cleaned it to good. I now have a hole in the part on the bottom, that holds the oil. And I’m sure it’s thin in a few other places.
Any ideas on how to fix. Thanks.

Noel
 

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I'd either braze it if you have the stuff to do it or solder it. That's what we do at work with the ones that have a pin hole like that. I've also run across a few where people used a sheet metal screw and some silicone and even one guy that had a big hole he patched using a 5/16 nut and bolt with a couple rubber and steel fender washers
 
I would second the solder route. Use acid flux (not rosin) and clean everything really good. Solder uses much lower heat than brazing or welding. Propane torch should work fine.
Let us know how it works out for you.
 
Got to agree with soldering it. Sand it down real good first to get it nice and smooth and clean. Wouldn't hurt to use some paint stripper on it. Have to paint it any way. May have more holes show up and better to find them now than later.
 
So. I figured it was so thin in spots, that I didn’t want to try a propane torch on it to solder or bronze it because it take more heat to do that.
So I cleaned it lightly and put JB weld on the hole and some other thin looking spots. After dry, I put a second coat on. I also did the inside. After all dry, I put Massey Ferguson red paint outside and in. Then a second coat when dry. Should be good for a while. And service it more often to keep the water out of the bottom of it. Who knows if the owners before me ever serviced it. Tractor is 67 years old , I’ve had it for 5 years. I’ve serviced it each year I’ve had it. Just need to look at air filter a little more often, to keep water out.

Noel
 

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Looks like a good repair since it's not under pressure, Noel. I had a vibration balancer go bad back in the late 1980's on my '72 GMC. The outer ring slid backward and ground a hole in the timing chain cover. Same as you, JB weld came to the rescue since that truck was making my living at the time. A used damper was pushed on and it stayed like that until 5 years ago. I put a different cam and heads on it and since it had to come off, a new timing chain cover went on! It never leaked where the JB repair was but the front main and oil pan seals were leaking.

Some of the 1960-1966 GMC guys I know have successfully converted the oil bath air filer for those V-6 engines to paper elements without altering the stock look of the oil bath housing. If more leaks persist maybe you can research that too.

DAC
 
JB Weld a excellent choice. Applying a couple layers helps with a sanding between coats. I find JBWeld requires more curing time than instructions, that’s been my experience
 
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