Date:         Thu, 29 Apr 2004 00:53:39 EDT
Reply-To:     THX0001@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         George Goff <THX0001@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Boston Bob Engine / Leakers?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 4/28/04 3:14:55 PM, tolga@MAC.COM writes:

<< Well after 15K on mine my biggest complaint is still that it leaks a good
deal of oil from the main seal behind the pulley, it has from the get go.
 I talked to Bob about it numerous times and while he has fiddled around
with it a bit he really didn't step up to the plate to resolve the
problem.  He told me that these engines aren't made to modern tolerances
so an oil leak is unavoidable. >>

I hate to read this because I was considering one of his rebuilds and you are
the second person I know of with an oil leak in one of his engines.  The
other one is in my friend's van and its the rear main seal which has leaked from
the start.  I guess Boston would supply a new seal, but there was no mention of
labor.  Also, if the crank is bitched a new seal puts you right back to
square one after much expense.  Maybe this is a good reason not to buy an airmail
rebuild.

Except for English engines, oil leaks became a thing of the past about 40
years ago, so the age of the design specs has notjing to do with the problem.
Could it be that the cranks are reground and he expects the stock sized seals to
accommodate the reduced OD?  Or, are there no seals made to accommodate the
reduced OD?  I wanna know.

George