The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Forestry and Logging => Topic started by: Plankton on February 17, 2016, 05:34:51 PM

Title: Leaking Oil pan gasket detroit
Post by: Plankton on February 17, 2016, 05:34:51 PM
Still working out all the kinks in my skidder, past owners did poor maintenance and I'm paying for it. My oil pan gasket just started pretty much pouring oil out of it I lost almost a gallon in 2 turns...just changed the oil a few weeks ago to switch to 30 weight and fix the leaking oil filter too.

I pulled the pan today and the gasket must be original or something, its paper thin and rock hard. It all stayed on the engine except for one piece the size of a quarter..sprayed it with wd40 to soften it a little and scraped away with a razor blade for too long. There is no way I'm going to get all of it off, the access is to bad (I can barely reach the back of the pan) also I cant see it so I have to go by feel.

I was thinking of using silicon gasket on top of the cork gasket (which of course was supposed to be here today but wont get here till tomorrow at noon..) in hope that it would fill in the gaps/unevenness where there is still old gasket. Access is a pain so it will get messy but hopefully lashing it on with string will help.

If my gasket was here today I would have done it, figured Id take the opportunity to check in here see if anyone has input.

Also any tips on removing hardened cork gasket? If I can get it to loosen up a little so it will come off in chunks bigger then a breadcrumb Ill take the time to remove it all.

Thanks, Daniel
Title: Re: Leaking Oil pan gasket detroit
Post by: jd540b on February 17, 2016, 05:51:19 PM
I'm with you brother.  My 230 was the same way.  Ended up pretty much going through an entire "redone" machine.  Motor was so bad in mine had to junk whole thing block and all.  Take out motor is a mooring now.  Put a torch to the gaskets.  That will soften them up and help greatly.  Good luck.
Title: Re: Leaking Oil pan gasket detroit
Post by: treeslayer2003 on February 17, 2016, 05:58:22 PM
i have used gasket remover spray. prolly they used gasket shellac on it. i'm betting it will leak pretty bad if you don't get the most of it off.
Title: Re: Leaking Oil pan gasket detroit
Post by: Adrian lucas on February 17, 2016, 06:52:16 PM
Hi Daniel
I also have a 353 which leaks oil I have found a product by Locktite  587 Blue silicone sealer which you can apply up to 6mm thick  works just great high temperature also up to 500 degrees F .I would suggest that you get the surface as clean and flat as possible . leave it set for half a day and you should be OK .
Good Luck Summercutter
Title: Re: Leaking Oil pan gasket detroit
Post by: grassfed on February 17, 2016, 06:55:04 PM
Take a break if you are frustrated but do not put it back together until you are sure that you got the old gasket off check it with a telescoping  mirror.  You may need to make a tool to reach the spot. Maybe you can loosen the motor mounts and jack the motor up some. I have a drawer full of gasket scrapers and I would not hesitate to modify one.

You have to get all of the gasket off or the oil pan will not torque down flat and then you will have a tweaked oil pan. BTW if it is stamped steel take some time and an body hammer and make sure it is straight and that the bolt holes are flat. I know this sounds like alot of trouble but it will save you in the long run.
Title: Re: Leaking Oil pan gasket detroit
Post by: jmouton on February 17, 2016, 07:27:42 PM
you know what they say, if  a detroit is not leaking it aint runnin right ,,,


                                                                                                                jim


                                                         
Title: Re: Leaking Oil pan gasket detroit
Post by: Tillman on February 17, 2016, 08:45:27 PM
Hey Plankton, I am in western MA too with a recently purchased 230. Mine leaks a bit near the top of the engine (exhaust). In any case wanted to say hi, if you ever need to saw up any logs I have a bandsaw.
Title: Re: Leaking Oil pan gasket detroit
Post by: Gearbox on February 17, 2016, 08:54:36 PM
Can you get in  there with a die grinder and a gasket removing wheel . fast and easy . My go to tool for gaskets .
Title: Re: Leaking Oil pan gasket detroit
Post by: ohiowoodchuck on February 17, 2016, 09:39:33 PM
Right stuff by permatex will seal it up. The gray international sealant will work so will the stuff Mac makes. Just about all of a 7.3 powerstroke is glued together with the international stuff and it works great. I would throw the cork gasket away and just use sealant.
Title: Re: Leaking Oil pan gasket detroit
Post by: s grinder on February 17, 2016, 10:17:24 PM
Don't use silicone and cork together,will push cork gasket right out when you tighten it up.
Title: Re: Leaking Oil pan gasket detroit
Post by: Spartan on February 17, 2016, 10:41:38 PM
Quote from: ohiowoodchuck on February 17, 2016, 09:39:33 PM
Right stuff by permatex will seal it up. The gray international sealant will work so will the stuff Mac makes. Just about all of a 7.3 powerstroke is glued together with the international stuff and it works great. I would throw the cork gasket away and just use sealant.

Ditto.  And it doesn't need to be perfect either (getting all the remnants off)  just get the big stuff off so it is fairly flat and no oil on the surfaces.  Use a knife to scrape what you can.  With silicone, I like to bead then let it set for a bit (not too long)  then assemble but dont torque all the way max tight just snug.  Let it set up that way then torque it later.  That way you don't have as much squish out into other stuff that you dont want silicone getting into.
Title: Re: Leaking Oil pan gasket detroit
Post by: repmma on February 18, 2016, 06:56:11 AM
best gasket scraper ive seen is a wood chisel.  Just have to be careful not to gauge the surface.
Title: Re: Leaking Oil pan gasket detroit
Post by: tantoy on February 18, 2016, 10:45:14 AM
Run the silicone on the INSIDE of the bolt holes.
Title: Re: Leaking Oil pan gasket detroit
Post by: ga jones on February 18, 2016, 03:38:28 PM
I agree, get rid of the cork and use permatex. A properly sealed and maintained Detroit won't leak oil...
Title: Re: Leaking Oil pan gasket detroit
Post by: Plankton on February 18, 2016, 05:15:24 PM
Thanks for all the advice guys. I went at scraping today with a fresh mindset and got it done. The back section required some yoga moves and a whole lot of swearing but it all worked out. Grassfed, thanks for mentioning a mirror didnt even think of that for some reason, helped me finish it today.

Drove to the parts store and turns out they couldnt get me the cork for today anyways so I bought a tube of the right stuff and got the oil pan back on. Looks like no leaks except a small drip in one corner, it had a skim of oil around it after driving for ten minutes. On the clark 664 you cant pull the oil pan out of the skidder without removing the engine or axle or something else so running the bead was tricky to say the least, I must not have gotten a good bead around the corner bolt hole.  I'm going to leave it be for now and get to pulling wood.

Agreed a detroit is just an engine like any other, no reason for it to just leak. I'm happy to say since running single weight oil mine doesn't leak any where except that corner of the oil pan. Oil is expensive and I think its worth doing the work so your not pouring it in all the time. Nevermind the environmental side of things.

Side note, my favorite tool was a pair of needle nosed vise grips clamped on a razor blade from my knife with one side covered in electrical tape, in the parts I couldnt see at all I could guide it with one hand and scrape with the other. I dont have any gasket scrapers and I dont like spending money if I dont have to so this worked out great.