Farmall Cub

I have several different manuals I have been using while reassembling my recently rebuilt engine, and am about to reinstall the distributor and governor along with a new distributor gear seal. One manual (not sure which one) at Paragraph 27 says "use sealer on outside diameter of seal when installing". What is the recommended sealant? (I do have the tool for inserting to the proper depth.)

Also, when I install a new front seal, does that also need sealant?

Thanks!

Do your seals have a green or blue coating on the metal portion of the seal? If so, no sealer is needed. If no, I'd just stop a good auto parts store and see what they have and recommend. Loc-tite makes a lot of good sealers.

Thanks, ricky racer. I am pretty sure the new seal has that green sealant on it...totally forgot. This manual portion I had copied may have been from an old Blue Ribbon manual... I saw no other similar statement in my newer service manuals.

I agree with Ricky, if you feel the need to use sealant, a little Hi Tack or Indian Head will do nicely.

I asked TST what he was using on the rear main retainers he was rebuilding, and it was Permatex Aircraft Sealant, After experimenting with it some, it has become a standard item in my tool box.

So, would you guys use one of those sealants you mention in addition to the green coating that comes on these new seals? I have Indian Head Varnish, but wouldn't it all rub off by the time the seal reached its correct depth?

When Raymond coats my arm with it, it stays pretty darn good.

The I/H is good stuff

As a past OE rep for a seal manufacture, I ONLY use Permatex 3B on the OD of any steel encased seals and I would always use it. 3B can both take heat and does not break down when exposed to petroleum based products. Many other sealants do. Most all manufactures do add a "coating" on the OD of steel to fill any voids in the bore that the seal is being installed. However, due the the age of a cub, many bores can be rough at best. It is very important where you put the sealant. In most all cases, you are installing a seal into a bore from the dry side. You would place the sealant on the OD of the seal so that the excess gets pushed out away to the dry side. If you put sealant in the bore and then drive the seal in, all the excess sealant goes into the wet side. sealant is very abrasive and it will find it's way to the seal lip and cause premature failure. Always wipe away any excess and you only need a thin film. you're not caulking a joint in the bath tub. NEVER put sealant on the seal lip!! You're just asking for trouble. Any time I see somewhere sealant was used as a gasket and it's oozing out everywhere, the same has taken place inside that engine or whatever and pieces are floating around doing bad things.

And does anyone put it on the distributor seal, as well as the front engine seal?

Thanks guys for your answers. Now help out with my new post about the Transmission!!