I have done this procedure a couple of times prior to my recent pilot bushing replacement (do not use the steel pilot bushing many supplies furnish- I learned the hard way!).
I was trying to stop leaks in the earlier episodes. I found what jorb described above- the knurled collar/nut had loosened. My gasket kits have always supplied a cork gasket for both the ball and the sliding end of the ball tube but I don't think that matters.
I forget who posted this tip but it has helped my system stay pretty leak free. Use one hose clamp around the knurled collar and another just in front of that on the end of the ball tube. They cinch down a little bridge between them and this will keep the collar from loosing on its own. Still won't stop the gasket wearing over time but that is where mine used to leak and keeping that collar tight has pretty much eliminated leaks over a pretty long time.
