Vac case oil leak question

[Alexander1997]

I noticed today my VAC is collecting oil up by the front two spark plugs.. What’s this a sign of? I was thinking faulty valve cover gasket but didn’t know if it could be a sign of something worse?

Oil pressure gauge reads good, tractor Didn’t run hot or anything and when I pulled the dip stick, it had plenty of oil

 

[Dieseltech]

If not the cover gasket it could be the tubes the push rods are in for the rocker arms that are pressed into the head. Those tubes can seep oil sometimes.

 

[Alexander1997]

If not the cover gasket it could be the tubes the push rods are in for the rocker arms that are pressed into the head. Those tubes can seep oil sometimes.

Ok. Doesn’t sound too serious though. Since this has been its initial startup, I keep worrying about a cracked block. I’m a bit over protective because it was my late grandfather’s. Thanks for your help!

 

[Joe (Wa)]

The oil pools around the top of the pushrod tubes and seeps down between the outside of the tube and the cylinder head bore. There is no seal on the tubes, they are simply a slight interference fit.

I swage the top of the tube with a clutch alignment tool I had that the pilot bearing end was just a thousands or so larger than the pushrod tube ID. You want to swage the tube tight against the entire thickness of the bore in the cylinder head so you don’t want to use a tapered tool. You must use a small vice grips or similar to prevent the tube from sliding down while swaging. Caution the tube metal is very soft, you don't want to crimp the tube with the vice grips, doesn't take much to hold the tube in the original position.

After swaging, I use a drift punch that is just the right diameter and taper to flare the top of the tube a bit to lessen the area available to pool oil on top of the tube.