The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Leaking torque tube

I have a 1951 Chevy 1/2 ton. With a 235 and a three speed column shift.
After I drive around for a while when I park I get a leak from where the collar attaches to the tube at the trans. If I turn the threaded collar tight again it stops leaking. How do I get it to stop from coming loose when I drive?
It is still tight after driving and only requires about 1/8th turn to stop the leak it's just aggravating.
Paul

Paul,

Try a non-hardening (non-curing) thread seal?

You also should check to see if there are two steel washers
on each side of the oil seal inside of the screw on retainer cap.
See Fig. 76, Slip Joint Packing and HERE

thanks that helps.

In my collection of torque tube pieces I have only one steel washer. Would I put it on the inside or outside of the seal?

I'd first try to get another steel washer (try the Swap Meet, Parts Wanted).

Or, flip a coin?

The screw on retainer cap requires two washers.
One washer on each side of the oil seal.
The inside dimensions of the back of the retainer cap is larger than the inside dimensions of the oil seal.
When the retainer cap is screwed on the oil seal wants to bulge out the back of the retainer cap.
Rather than bulging downward into the torque tube.
The inside dimensions of the washers are the same as the inside dimensions of the oil seal and the outside dimensions of the torque tube.
Therefore the oil seal has no place else to go except into the torque tube.
One other thing, the oil seal looses its bounce back tension after awhile.
That is one of the reason why the retainer cap loosens.
Call Northwest Transmission Parts ask for John.
They will have the washers and all the parts you need to fix your truck's leaking problem.
They make rubber and cork retainer cap seals I prefer rubber.

Thank you Jorb. Got suggestions and help.

I will call and order parts thanks

Let me know if they have those pieces. I could not find much on their web site. Mainly for Powerglide trannies.

The Northwest Transmission Parts website only has a small fraction of their inventory listed on the website.
Keep in mind the early passenger car 1950-54 Power Glide Transmission used a torque tube drive line also.
Some of those car torque tube parts are the same parts used on the truck torque tube.
Same Retainer cap
Same Retainer washers
Same Retainer Oil Seal
Same Ball housing
Same 4 hole Ball Collar & shims for manual transmission.
Same 6 hole Ball Collar & shims for Hydra-Matic and Power Glide transmission.
Same Ball Collar oil seal
Same Rear U-Joint Yoke, 1940-55, Pass, 1/2 ton (3-SPD), Pass w/P.G., 1/2 ton Hydra-Matic, 1/2 ton (Hvy.Duty) (1st Ser.)
Same Trunnion Group # 5.548, 1940-54, Pass, 1/2 ton, Repair Kit, Part # 609944
Power Glide Transmission -Rear Pump Section

1929 - 1957 Chevrolet Master Parts & Accessories Catalog
Group # 5.576 Retainer--Washer
Retainer cap washers and seal dimensions.
I.D. of the oil seal is: 2 5/32" x 25/32", this also be might the I.D. of the washers and the O.D. of torque tube.
O.D. of the washers is: 2 11/32" x 1/16" ..... Please read next post.

You need to talk to John at Northwest Transmission Parts
he is the guy that knows about these old specialty parts.

Some of the info in my previous POST needs to be corrected.

The 1929 - 1957 Chevrolet Master Parts & Accessories Catalog info is misleading.
In front of the dimensions, the Master Parts Catalog refers to the Oil Seal.
The dimensions under Group # 5.576 Retainer--Washer - have nothing to do with the retainer oil seal dimensions.
The dimensions are for the Retainer Cap and the oil seal Washers.

Below is what my Retainer--Washer dimensions are.

The below photos show the dimensions of the retainer cap Part # 595012:
Retainer A
Retainer B
The I.D. of the back lip of the retainer cap is: 2 5/32"
The retainer cap depth from the front edge to the inside lip is: 25/32"
That correlates with the Master Parts Catalog.
Master Parts Catalog does not show the I.D. of the retainer cap (thread to thread).
The I.D. of my retainer cap (thread to thread) is: 2 11/32"

The below photo shows the dimensions of the retainer oil seal Washers Part # 595013.
Oil Seal Washers
The O.D. of the Washers is: 2 10/32"
The I.D. of the Washers is: 2 1/32"
The width of the Washers is: 1/16"
Master Parts Catalog shows O.D. of the Washers is: 2 11/32", 1/32" larger than mine.
Master Parts Catalog does not show the I.D. of the Washers.
The width of my Washers correlates with the Master Parts Catalog.

1937-54 Chevrolet Torque Tube Retainer, Washers, Oil Seal Photo Album

The Master Parts Catalog does not show dimensions of the Retainer oil seal. Group# 5.572